In a move that has sent shockwaves through the gambling industry, India’s Parliament has passed legislation banning all real-money online games nationwide. This sweeping decision aims to address growing concerns over gambling addiction, rising personal debt, and a troubling increase in suicides linked to losses from real-money gaming.

The newly enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2005 targets a broad range of platforms, including fantasy sports, online poker, card games, and other skill-based contests. The legislation effectively dismantles a booming digital sector that currently serves nearly 450 million users. Under the new law, banks and payment processors are prohibited from facilitating transactions related to these games. Violators could face fines of up to $10 million or prison sentences of up to three years.

As the country shifts its focus toward promoting e-sports and non-monetary gaming, the future of digital entertainment in India is heading into uncharted territory. This decision also shines a light on how deeply ingrained online gambling has become in everyday digital culture. Beyond the marquee apps and high-stakes platforms, win real money no deposit bonuses, many players have been using from NoDepositRewards.org, highlighting just how mainstream the pursuit of low-risk wagering has become. By making real money play accessible with little or no upfront cost, these promotions lowered the barrier for millions of first-time participants, fueling unprecedented growth. With the government’s sweeping ban now in place, both small-scale players and international operators are scrambling to assess what comes next.

Huge Loss

Despite being hailed as one of the fastest-growing segments of India’s digital market, the real-money gaming industry is now facing an abrupt and potentially irreversible collapse. Several companies have already begun pulling the plug on their India operations.

Global gaming firm Flutter Entertainment was among the first to confirm the shutdown of its skill-based gaming platform, Junglee Games. Despite years of investment and a workforce exceeding 1,100 employees in India, Flutter cited the abrupt policy shift and lack of industry dialogue as key reasons for its exit.

The new law, which prohibits all real-money online games regardless of whether they are based on skill or chance, also casts a shadow over India’s national sports sponsorships. Dream11, the country’s largest fantasy sports platform and lead sponsor of the national cricket team, has halted all cash-based contests. Its partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), announced in 2023 and prominently featured on team jerseys,  is now under review, with officials waiting for formal legal clarity.

Meanwhile, the broader economic toll is becoming clear. Leading gaming startup Mobile Premier League (MPL) has already begun downsizing, cutting a reported 60% of its Indian workforce within days of the bill’s passage. And that may be just the beginning. Industry groups estimate that the real-money gaming sector contributes billions in annual tax revenue, supports around 200,000 jobs, and holds a market valuation nearing $2 trillion.

Enforcement Challenges

While the Indian government’s ban on real-money online gaming is intended to curb addiction, protect vulnerable users, and eliminate financial exploitation, critics argue the decision may create more problems than it solves. As the dust settles, concerns are mounting that the ban could drive the industry underground, push users toward riskier platforms, and damage the very economy it aims to safeguard.

One of the biggest challenges lies in enforcement. In an age of digital anonymity and global connectivity, banning access to specific platforms within India may be largely symbolic. Users already familiar with online gaming are expected to quickly turn to virtual private networks (VPNs) or foreign sites that continue to offer real-money gaming, platforms that fall outside Indian jurisdiction and lack any consumer protection standards.

Legal and cybersecurity experts have pointed out the practical difficulties of monitoring or prosecuting end-users. While the law heavily penalizes operators, advertisers, and payment facilitators, there are currently no legal consequences for individuals who continue playing on offshore platforms. This gap raises questions about the law’s ability to actually deter user behavior.

Ban Won’t Stop Demand

Another concerning factor that lawmakers have seemingly overlooked is the fact that banning popular platforms doesn’t erase demand. Instead, it often redirects it. As some observers note, India risks replicating a familiar pattern seen in other countries: eliminating regulated domestic platforms, only for users to migrate to riskier, unregulated alternatives. This undermines the core intention of the law, while making enforcement more difficult and user harm more likely.

As things stand, India’s decision to outlaw real-money gaming may end up pushing the problem into the shadows, rather than solving it. By shutting down local, regulated platforms and failing to provide viable alternatives, the government risks triggering a migration toward unregulated spaces, where user protection is absent, money flows untaxed, and enforcement becomes nearly impossible.