India's Money Gaming Ban Takes Effect From Today

India's ban on real-money gaming went into effect today, marking the start of a new era for the country's online gaming industry.

India's real-money gaming ban under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 is supported by extensive government data on financial and social harm, while establishing a robust regulatory framework through the National Online Gaming Commission to promote esports and social gaming. The law is grounded in official estimates that approximately 45 crore Indians lose around ₹20,000 crore annually to online money games, with documented cases of addiction, financial ruin, and suicides linked to these platforms.

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025’s Core Objectives

Major operators, including Dream11, Games24x7, MPL, and WinZoo, must now eliminate betting and gambling offerings. The law bans popular formats like fantasy sports, poker, and rummy that previously generated the bulk of industry revenue.

Starting Tuesday, users must verify their identity and age to access gaming platforms. Players can withdraw existing balances from gaming wallets, but cannot make new deposits for banned activities.

The law also prohibits advertising of money games and bars financial institutions from processing transactions related to prohibited gaming.

New Rules, Compliance Duties, and Penalties

Enforcement measures include warrantless arrests for violations and penalties of up to 100 million rupees ($1.2 million) and imprisonment for operators. Individual users face potential sentences of two years and fines of up to 5 million rupees.

The newly established National Online Gaming Commission will oversee licensing, game classification, and compliance. The federal body consolidates previously fragmented state and federal regulations.

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the industry retains growth potential through government support for esports and social gaming, according to the Times of India.