India Notifies Rules Banning Real-Money Online Gaming

The Indian government notified rules on April 22, 2026, to implement the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, solidifying a nationwide ban on real-money online gaming while establishing a light-touch regulatory framework for non-monetary games and esports. The rules, published in the official Gazette, will take effect on May 1, 2026, aiming to protect users from financial and psychological risks while fostering the growth of permissible online gaming activities.

Under the new framework, real-money gaming platforms remain prohibited, as confirmed by the Act's provisions that distinguish entertainment-based games from those involving monetary stakes. Officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) emphasized that this ban addresses concerns over user protection, unregulated offshore operations, and financial vulnerabilities. Last year, platforms such as Dream11, Mobile Premier League, and Paytm First Games curtailed or halted real-money features in response to the Act's initial rollout, which had already curtailed such activities.

At the core of the rules is the creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), a digital-first...