India to Begin Enforcing Online Gaming Ban From October 1st

• India will enforce its Online Gaming Act from October 1, banning all real-money games.
• Esports and social gaming are supported, aiming to curb addiction and financial fraud.
• Platforms like Dream11, WinZO, and PokerBaazi have already halted operations, while other companies are challenging the law in court.

India will begin enforcing a comprehensive ban on online real-money gaming from Oct. 1, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Thursday, as the government moves to crack down on addiction, money laundering and financial fraud in the rapidly growing sector.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which bans all forms of online money games while promoting esports and social gaming, was passed by Parliament last month and received presidential approval. The enforcement timeline was announced during a pre-event conference for the planned AI Impact Summit 2026 India.

"The rules will be promulgated with effect from October 1," Mr. Vaishnaw said, though he indicated the government remains open to additional consultations with industry stakeholders before implementation.

The minister emphasized the extensive consultation process that preceded the law's finalization, saying the government has engaged with gaming companies, banks and other stakeholders for nearly three years. Even after Parliament passed the legislation, discussions continued to address industry concerns and refine implementation details.

"We have engaged with the industry, we have had multiple discussions with them, we have been having discussions with them for last almost three years," Mr. Vaishnaw said. "After passing the law, once again, we engaged with them, we also engaged with the banks and practically all stakeholders possible, and we have finalized the rules."

The government plans one final round of industry consultations and could adopt a more flexible timeline if companies require additional preparation time, the minister said, noting that a consultative approach has been the government's standard practice.

One significant concern raised by gaming platforms involved returning money remaining in user accounts as they wind down real-money operations. Mr. Vaishnaw said the government worked extensively with banks to develop a solution for this issue.

Following the law's passage, major gaming platforms including Dream11, My11Circle, WinZO, Zupee and Nazara Technologies-backed PokerBaazi have already halted their real-money gaming offerings. Many companies have pivoted to esports tournaments, short-form video content, skill-based contests or social gaming formats that comply with the new regulations.

The legislation represents a significant shift for India's online gaming industry, which has grown rapidly in recent years but faced mounting government scrutiny over concerns about gambling addiction and fraudulent practices. The law aims to distinguish between games of skill and chance while promoting legitimate e-sports competitions.

Industry observers expect the enforcement to fundamentally reshape India's digital gaming landscape, potentially driving innovation in skill-based gaming while eliminating platforms that regulators viewed as problematic.