India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans real-money online games, has prompted a sweeping response across the domestic gaming industry. Major platforms such as Dream11, MPL, PokerBaazi, Zupee, WinZO, and Probo have begun suspending their real-money gaming services in compliance with the new law. Although no new deposits will be allowed, these companies have assured users that existing wallet balances remain secure and withdrawals will proceed without interruption.
The sudden legislative shift is already threatening a sector that secured over $1 billion in investments from 2020 to 2022. Venture capital and startup valuations, estimated at nearly $15 billion, are now facing a wave of uncertainty. Industry players and investors are urgently reevaluating strategies for operating within a regulatory environment that drastically reduces financial gaming opportunities. The Times of India+1
At the same time, in a show of cautious optimism, India’s IT Secretary S. Krishnan stressed that the ban does not affect casual gaming or e-sports. He indicated the government remains keen to support the non-gambling segments of the gaming ecosystem through a clearer regulatory framework that balances innovation with protection.
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