India’s government is proposing a ban on online games played for money, according to a draft bill reviewed by Reuters.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 says no person should offer, assist, or join in online money games, citing financial and psychological harm.

Violators could face up to three years in jail and fines.

The bill defines these as games where users deposit money in hopes of winning rewards.

It alleges such games use addictive features that encourage compulsive spending and can lead to financial problems.

India’s market for online money gaming could reach US$3.6 billion by 2029, according to Lumikai.

Popular fantasy sports apps like Dream11 and Mobile Premier League, valued at US$8 billion and US$2.5 billion, respectively, see increased activity during major cricket tournaments.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ India’s proposed gaming ban abandons the skill-versus-chance legal framework

The new bill represents a dramatic shift from India’s traditional approach to gaming regulation, which previously distinguished between games of skill and games of chance.

The draft legislation defines “online money games” as any game requiring payment to participate, explicitly ignoring whether the game involves skill or chance 2. This marks a departure from established legal precedent where India’s Supreme Court had classified games like rummy and poker as games of skill, making betting on them permissible in several states 3.

The bill’s approach could affect major platforms like Dream11 (valued at $8 billion) and Mobile Premier League (valued at $2.5 billion) that have built their business models around fantasy sports, traditionally considered skill-based 1.

This regulatory shift eliminates the legal distinctions that companies have relied on for years, replacing nuanced classification with a comprehensive prohibition regardless of game mechanics.

2️⃣ The ban targets a sector generating substantial tax revenue and employment

The proposed legislation threatens an industry that generated over $2 billion in revenue last year and employs more than 100,000 people 4.