In a landmark decision, President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, officially making it a law. The bill, which prohibits all online money gaming services, was passed swiftly by both houses of Parliament amid opposition protests.
The new law imposes a blanket ban on all online money games, including fantasy sports, card games like poker and rummy, and online lotteries, regardless of whether they are based on skill or chance. The legislation carries strict penalties for those who facilitate these services, including imprisonment for up to three years and fines of up to ₹1 crore. Advertising for these platforms is also outlawed, with offenders facing up to two years in prison and a fine of ₹50 lakh. The law also prohibits banks and financial institutions from processing transactions for these activities.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw championed the bill in Parliament, citing government estimates that 450 million players have lost over ₹20,000 crore to online money gaming. He stated that the government’s duty is to address social evils and that the bill aims to protect the public from the harmful effects of these games, such as addiction, financial ruin, and misuse for money laundering.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the bill, noting that it will encourage e-sports and other online social games while protecting society from the negative impacts of real-money games.
While the government has positioned the law as a necessary social safeguard, the online gaming industry has reacted with alarm, calling the ban a “death knell” for the sector. Industry bodies, which represent a ₹31,000 crore sector, argue that the ban will harm legitimate domestic businesses and inadvertently benefit unregulated offshore operators. The industry has stated that the move could result in the closure of over 400 companies, the loss of over 200,000 jobs, and a potential loss of ₹25,000 crore in foreign investment received since 2022.
Following the passage of the bill, several major gaming platforms, including Dream11 and WinZO, have already announced the cessation of their “pay to play” services.