India’s Parliament has approved the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, effectively outlawing all real-money online games. The bill is now awaiting the President’s assent, which is expected shortly. In response, major players in the industry such as Dream Sports (the parent company of Dream11), Mobile Premier League (MPL), Zupee, Gameskraft, and Probo have started winding down their operations.
What’s changing
Fantasy platforms like Dream Picks and Dream Play have already been taken offline, though services like Dream11 and similar apps are still accessible for the moment. Dream Sports has announced that all cash-based offerings will be discontinued once the law comes into effect. The move puts an estimated ₹23,000 crore market at risk, along with revenues of over ₹310 billion and ₹200 billion in tax collections.
Industry impact
MPL has stopped accepting new deposits and plans to open withdrawals beginning August 22. Zupee has halted all its paid games but will continue operating free-to-play options like Ludo Supreme and Snakes & Ladders. Dream Sports is shifting focus to other business segments such as FanCode and Cricbuzz. Reports indicate that job cuts have already begun as companies restructure.
Why the government acted
The legislation aims to address rising concerns over gaming addiction, financial hardship, manipulation, and access by underage users. It includes strict penalties, with jail terms of up to three years and fines that can go as high as ₹1 crore. A new regulatory body will also be set up to monitor esports and social gaming, while prohibiting any games involving real money.
What this means going forward
For users, access to real-money games is coming to an abrupt end. For employees in the sector, job security is now uncertain. Sports sponsorships—especially in cricket, where fantasy gaming firms were major backers—may see sharp declines. The sudden shift toward heavy regulation marks a clear departure from the industry’s rapid, high-growth phase.
With the new law, real-money gaming in India has essentially come to a halt. Major platforms are shutting down, companies are preparing for layoffs, and a once-thriving industry is facing a complete transformation.
