Several gaming platforms, including WinZO and Dream11, have ceased operations following the Centre’s crackdown on online money games. On Thursday, Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, with both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha clearing it without debate.
The bill aims to prohibit harmful online money gaming platforms, while encouraging e-sports and online social games.
The legislation also aims to ban advertisements for online money games and prevent banks or financial institutions from handling or transferring money related to such games. It also proposes to outlaw all forms of online betting and gambling, including online games like poker and rummy, as well as fantasy sports.
Online Gaming Platforms Not Working Now
- WinZO
- Mobile Premier League
- Zupee: Zupee stops real money gaming but will continue to offer free-to-play games. Zupee Spokesperson said, “Zupee remains fully operational and our players can continue to enjoy their favourite games on the platform. In line with the new Online Gaming Bill 2025, we are discontinuing paid games, but our hugely popular free titles like Ludo Supreme, Ludo Turbo, Snakes & Ladders, and Trump Card Mania will continue to be available for all users for free. We remain committed to delivering fun, engaging, and responsible gaming & entertainment experiences to our 150+ million users across India for free.”
- On Friday, India’s Nazara Tech’s associate firm Moonshine Technologies, which operates PokerBaazi, stopped offering online games involving money.
- Bengaluru-based Gameskraft Technologies’ popular platform RummyCulture has said it has closed operations in India.
- Dream 11 posted a statement on its website on Friday saying, after the bill was passed in Parliament, “cash games and contests have been discontinued”, but urged fans to “stay tuned”.
- Head Digital Works, the company behind A23 Rummy and A23 Poker, announced that it has discontinued all of its online money games.
- Probo, an Opinion trading platform, has also said that it has ceased operations in India.
The new rules are expected to have a significant impact on India’s $3.8 billion gaming sector, which has drawn global investment and given rise to popular fantasy sports platforms such as Dream11, Games24X7 and Mobile Premier League.
Under the bill, money-based online games will be treated as an offence, punishable with up to three years in prison and/or a fine of up to Rs 1 crore. Repeat violations could invite stricter penalties of three to five years’ imprisonment and fines reaching up to Rs 2 crore.
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