India’s Parliament has delivered a crushing blow to the digital gaming industry, enacting comprehensive legislation that outlaws all forms of real-money gaming across the country. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, sailed through both legislative chambers this week, marking the end of an era for millions of players and thousands of gaming entrepreneurs.
The transformation has been remarkable. India’s digital gaming landscape, worth ₹316 billion today, emerged from virtually nothing just a decade ago. Cheap internet and smartphone penetration created a perfect storm for growth, with platforms like Dream11, MPL, and Games24x7 becoming household names. The real-money segment, encompassing fantasy cricket, poker tournaments, and skill-based card games, generated an overwhelming 86% of total industry revenues.
Now, that revenue stream faces extinction. The new law doesn’t merely regulate; it prohibits entirely. Any platform offering monetary stakes, whether based on skill or luck, falls under the ban. The penalties are severe enough to deter even the most determined operators: three years in prison and ₹1 crore in fines for running such platforms, plus two years’ imprisonment and ₹50 lakh in penalties for advertising them.
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw justified the drastic measures by revealing staggering losses. “An estimated 45 crore people lose around ₹20,000 crore annually through online gaming,” he declared, drawing parallels between gaming addiction and substance abuse. The government prioritised protecting vulnerable citizens over preserving a profitable digital sector.
Industry veterans are sounding alarm bells. They argue that such extreme measures will force the entire ecosystem underground, pushing players toward illegal international platforms beyond Indian jurisdiction. The prohibition could eliminate tens of thousands of jobs overnight and reverse years of technological advancement in the gaming space.
The legislation reveals India’s binary approach to digital innovation: either a full embrace or complete rejection. While the same bill actively promotes e-sports competitions and social gaming platforms, it shows zero tolerance for monetary elements. This contrasts sharply with regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom or Singapore, where authorities have developed sophisticated oversight mechanisms rather than imposing blanket bans.
Parliament’s swift action, occurring despite ongoing opposition disruptions over unrelated electoral issues, demonstrates the government’s unwavering commitment to its anti-gambling stance. The decision prioritises social welfare over economic opportunity, potentially reshaping India’s relationship with digital entertainment forever.
