- By Alex David
- Tue, 02 Sep 2025 01:15 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Indian authorities are ‘working’ with the gaming companies affected by the new gambling regime – the Online Gaming Bill, 2025 – which has outlawed all forms of real money gambling in India. On Monday, Indian electronics and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was reported to have engaged industry stakeholders on the impact of the new bill and the significance of an “orderly transition” for companies affected by it.
Focus on Transition and User Safety
As per a report by Moneycontrol, the meeting delved on how the government does not want the money to fall in the hands of the users and want to ensure that users money is safe during the switchover. Operators of real money games like Dream11, MPL and Zupee have started taking the foot off the pedal after the legislation received the green signal. Firms affected say they are cooperating closely with payment providers to follow the new rules.
What the Online Gaming Bill Covers
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill (August 2025) This proposed Act aims:
- Ban real money games, including online rummy, poker, and fantasy sports.
- Prohibit advertising and promotion of real money gaming platforms.
- Prevent banks and financial institutions from facilitating payments related to such games.
- Promote online games and esports, which remain outside the ambit of the ban.
Real money games, the government has long argued, exist in a grey area where skills and chance merge, making them tantamount to gambling — a banned activity in most Indian states.
Pushback From Industry
Compliance has been mixed from companies, and industry has not all backed the ban. Reuters, Online rummy and poker platform, A23 has legally challenged it in the High Court of Karnataka, calling it “state paternalism” and stating that it unfairly criminalizes legitimate skill-based gaming operations. The company says the ban could mean overnight liquidation of gaming companies, threatening jobs and investments.
Formation of an Industry Body
A number of Indian developers and publishers have now come together to form the Indian Game Publishers and Developers Association (IGPDA) in the wake of the regulatory turmoil. Members consist of SuperGaming, Reliance Games, Dot9 Games, among others. The body hopes to act as the collective voice of the industry for future policy-making as well as work to further the objectives of esports and non-disparagement of gaming in India.
A Shift Toward Esports and Innovation
Real money gaming has been reigned in, but the government still sees esports and social gaming platforms as vanguards of innovation, digital entertainment and generation of employment. Discussions from the IT ministry indicate a willingness to support industry transformation — but complimentary to safe, transparent and legally compliant gaming experiences.
