India bans all money-based online games nationwide

India’s government will notify the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 “very quickly” according to Electronics and IT Secretary S. Krishnan, implementing a complete nationwide ban on all money-based online games.
• Major gaming platforms including Dream11, MPL, My11Circle, WinZO, Zupee, and PokerBaazi have already suspended their real-money gaming operations and assured users they can withdraw existing wallet balances but cannot make new deposits.
• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially ended its partnership with Dream11, stating it will not engage with such organizations in the future.
• The Act carries severe penalties including up to three years imprisonment and fines of Rs 1 crore for operators, while also prohibiting banks from facilitating transactions for money gaming services.
• While banning money games, the legislation promotes e-sports and online social games, with the government citing concerns over gambling addiction affecting an estimated 45 crore people who lost around Rs 20,000 crore annually.

Why it matters
India’s comprehensive ban on money-based online gaming marks a watershed moment that will reshape the country’s digital entertainment landscape, affecting millions of users and thousands of employees while setting a global precedent for gaming regulation.