The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 aims to place a total ban on real-money gaming (RMG) in India.
This includes games involving both skill and chance where people bet money. The bill bans the offering, promotion, or advertisement of such games and includes strict penalties for those who break the law.
Industry experts warn that this move could severely impact a $25-billion industry that currently employs over 2 lakh people.
Concerns from the Industry: Jobs, Revenue Losses, and Illegal Alternatives
Gaming companies believe the ban will:
Push users toward illegal offshore betting sites and matka platforms, which are riskier and harder to regulate.
Lead to a $4 billion annual GST revenue loss from offshore websites, more than the $3.5 billion India currently earns from its legal RMG market.
Put at risk 2 lakh jobs, ₹25,000 crore in taxes, and $3 billion in foreign investments already made in the industry.
Major Companies Affected
Top real-money gaming companies like Dream11, Games24x7, MPL, Nazara Technologies, and Gameskraft may face serious trouble.
Despite a 28% GST rate since 2023, many of them have still made strong profits—Gameskraft made ₹947 crore in FY24, and Dream11 earned ₹188 crore in FY23.
Experts believe the ban could harm their future funding plans and upcoming IPOs.
Legal and Constitutional Issues
Critics argue the bill is unconstitutional because it doesn’t clearly separate games of skill from gambling.
Several High Courts have ruled that games involving skill are protected under Article 19(1)(g), which gives citizens the right to practice any profession or trade.
Legal expert Jay Sayta says the government should wait for the Supreme Court’s decision in the Gameskraft case, which will decide if RMG counts as gambling.
What’s Next?
There is a broad political agreement in Parliament to ban money gaming. However, industry bodies like AIGF, EGF, and FIFS have requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reconsider.
The government says it is focused on social welfare, pointing to the ₹20,000 crore lost annually by 45 crore Indians on RMG platforms.
