India’s gaming sector has come to a halt after the parliament approved the Promotion and Regulations of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. Some of the biggest players in the industry have now suspended their real-money contests across the country.
The legislation, which was cleared in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, has outlawed all forms of real-money online games. The bill also encourages the growth of eSports and social gaming.
Platforms like Dream11, Mobile Premier League (MPL), Zupee, and Pokerbaazi have now suspended all their activities.
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MPL has around 120 million registered users globally. The company had to suspend all gaming offerings involving money. "Effective immediately, we are suspending all gaming offerings involving money on the MPL platform in India. Our foremost priority is our users. While new deposits will no longer be accepted, customers will be able to withdraw their balances seamlessly. However, online money games will not be available on the MPL platform anymore."
Zupee, a leading gaming startup founded in 2018 and run by Cashgrail Private Limited, has said that it would discontinue its paid games. A company spokesperson speaking to Business Today said Zupee remains fully operational, and our players can continue to enjoy their favourite games on the platform. In line with the new Online Gaming Bill 2025, we are discontinuing paid games, but our hugely popular free titles like Ludo Supreme, Ludo Turbo, Snakes & Ladders, and Trump Card Mania will continue to be available for all users for free. We remain committed to delivering fun, engaging, and responsible gaming & entertainment experiences to our 150+ million users across India for free.”
Zupee stops real money gaming, will continue to offer free to play games
— Zupee Newsroom (@zupeenewsroom) August 21, 2025
“Zupee remains fully operational and our players can continue to enjoy their favourite games on the platform. In line with the new Online Gaming Bill 2025, we are discontinuing paid games, but our hugely…
Dream11, the most popular online real money platform, has also stopped its paid fantasy sports contests. Over 90 per cent of Dream11's revenue came from Dream11’s paid contests. Dream Sports is excited to move toward ventures like Fancode, Sports Drip, Cricbuss, and Willow TV.
Dream Sports CEO Harsh Jain told employees in an internal communication that there is no legal pathway to continue real money gaming once the law takes effect. The company has shared its plans for its transition with staff.
Pokerbaazi has also suspended operations and put out a statement on Friday. The statement said, "With a very heavy heart, we announce that PokerBaazi will be pausing its operations in compliance with The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. Effective immediately, no real money games will be offered on our platform."
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
— PokerBaazi (@PokerBaazi) August 22, 2025
With a very heavy heart, we announce that PokerBaazi will be pausing its operations in compliance with The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. Effective immediately, no real money games will be offered on our platform. pic.twitter.com/pICxcPkISU
The law is expected to disrupt the thousands of users and trigger layoffs. The government promotes esports and non-monetary skill-based gaming as the future of the industry.
