Following Parliament’s approval of the Online Gaming Bill, 2025, major real-money gaming (RMG) platforms in India, including Dream11 and Mobile Premier League (MPL), have started suspending contests and paid games. The bill, which passed both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha this week, seeks to ban all forms of online money games. At the same time, it aims to promote eSports and online social gaming.
India’s Top Gaming Platforms Halt Paid Games Amid New Bill
The newly passed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, defines online money games as those where users deposit money with the expectation of winnings. This legislation has prompted the largest players in India’s RMG sector to take immediate action, with companies like Dream11 parent Dream Sports, Gameskraft, MPL, and Zupee reportedly suspending paid offerings on their platforms.
Dream11 Halts ‘Pay to Play’ Contests
In a statement on its website, Dream11 announced that “cash games and contests have been discontinued” in response to the new bill. The company has also paused all ‘Pay to Play’ contests on its new fantasy sports app, Dream Picks, and its casual RMG offering, Dream Play. While a notice on the app assured users that their account balances are safe and available for withdrawal, industry sources cited in a Moneycontrol report suggest that the company is preparing to suspend paid contests on its flagship Dream11 app once the law is officially notified.
Prior to the suspension, a “prize pool” contest on the Dream11 app cost as little as ₹29 (33 cents) to enter, with a top payout of ₹300,000 ($3,438). The government’s move also raises questions about the fate of Dream11’s sponsorship of the Indian national cricket team, a three-year deal that began in July 2023. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to make an announcement, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stating, “The BCCI will follow every policy of the country that is framed by the central government.”
MPL, Gameskraft, and Zupee Follow Suit
MPL has also suspended all of its RMG offerings. A company spokesperson confirmed that while new deposits are no longer being accepted, customers can withdraw their existing balances. The spokesperson added that the company will now focus on providing “competitive, free to play, non-money based gaming experiences.”
Similarly, Bengaluru-based Gameskraft has paused ‘Add Cash’ and ‘Gameplay services’ on its rummy apps, including RummyCulture, while reassuring users that their funds are safe. Zupee has also discontinued its paid games but will continue to offer free games such as Ludo Supreme, Ludo Turbo, Snakes & Ladders, and Trump Card Mania.
Legal Challenge Looms for New Law
According to a Reuters report, Indian gaming groups are consulting with lawyers to potentially challenge the ban in the Supreme Court. The industry’s arguments are expected to focus on a lack of consultation, the significant impact on a thriving sector, and the classification of some games like poker as skill-based, which they believe should be exempt from the ban.
The bill, piloted by Union electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, also prohibits the advertising of money games and directs banks and financial institutions to block payments to such platforms. Offering banned money games could result in a jail term of up to three years and a fine.