Zupee, India’s leading skill-based online gaming platform, pulled the plug on its real-money gaming services on Thursday. The announcement to discontinue its cash-based games comes in the wake of the clearance of the Online Gaming Bill by both houses of Parliament. The bill bans all forms of games that involve monetary stakes. However, enthusiasts need not worry, as they can continue to play free titles on the platform.
Gurugram-based Zupee has emerged as a major player in the real-money gaming ecosystem across the country. It was founded by Dilsher Singh Malhi and Siddhant Saurabh in 2019. A Zupee spokesperson said, “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.” Meanwhile, the company assured that it remains fully committed to delivering fun, engaging, and responsible gaming and entertainment experiences to over 150 million users across the country for free.
Rajya Sabha passed ‘The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025’ on Thursday as opposition continued its protests and sloganeering in the house. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw tabled the Online Gaming Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bill was passed by voice vote. Outlining the objectives of the bill, the Union Minister said that the government aims to promote online social games and esports.
The Online Gaming Bill 2025 prohibits online games that involve monetary stakes, due to concerns such as financial losses, addiction, etc. It imposes a blanket ban on all forms of online betting and gambling. While speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Vaishnaw said, “Online gaming is an important subject which has emerged as an important sector in the digital world. It has 3 segments – the first segment is e-sports, in which people form a team and play, learn coordination, and develop strategic thinking. Our players have also won many medals. In this bill, e-sports will be promoted, an authority will be created for it, and it will get legal recognition. The second is Online Social Games, which includes solitaire, chess, Sudoku, etc. In this bill, online social games will be promoted, encouraged, and an authority will be created.”
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