Head Digital Works, the parent company India's leading online gaming platform A23, has approached the Karnataka High Court challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Law, 2025, becoming the first real money gaming (RMG) operator to formally contest the legislation.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, passed by Parliament on August 21 and now enacted into law, has sent shockwaves across India’s real-money gaming sector. The legislation seeks a complete ban on all forms of online money games, while promoting e-sports and online social gaming.
Platforms pull the plug
Soon after the Bill’s passage, major operators including Dream11, My11Circle, WinZO, Zupee, MPL, and Nazara Technologies-backed PokerBaazi suspended their real-money gaming services. Dream11, endorsed by icons like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, discontinued all cash contests, while My11Circle said in a social media post that it was halting paid games.
PokerBaazi assured users that funds remain safe and withdrawable, even as it stopped real-money offerings. WinZO, which hosted over 100 such games, said it was “responsibly withdrawing impacted offerings,” while MPL confirmed on LinkedIn that users can still withdraw balances despite the suspension of money games.
Foreign investment at stake
The Indian gaming industry has grown rapidly, valued at USD 3.7 billion in 2024 and projected to hit USD 9.1 billion by 2029, according to the India Gaming Report 2025.
With nearly USD 3 billion in FDI inflows over five years and a user base forming 20% of the world’s gamers, India has emerged as one of the largest gaming markets globally. The new law, however, casts uncertainty over this growth trajectory.
Industry reaction divided
While the ban has been welcomed by some as a safeguard against addiction, fraud, and money laundering, industry insiders have flagged unintended consequences. Ananay Jain, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat, called the legislation a “double-edged sword,” noting that while it creates a clear regulatory environment and enforces accountability, blanket restrictions risk stifling innovation and burdening startups.
Players seek relief
Industry bodies such as the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) have written to Home Minister Amit Shah, stressing that the sector represents a Rs 2 lakh crore enterprise valuation with annual revenues of over Rs 31,000 crore. They have urged the government to reconsider the sweeping ban on skill-based money games, warning of job losses and financial setbacks for a sunrise industry.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, passed by Parliament on August 21 and now enacted into law, has sent shockwaves across India’s real-money gaming sector. The legislation seeks a complete ban on all forms of online money games, while promoting e-sports and online social gaming.
Platforms pull the plug
Soon after the Bill’s passage, major operators including Dream11, My11Circle, WinZO, Zupee, MPL, and Nazara Technologies-backed PokerBaazi suspended their real-money gaming services. Dream11, endorsed by icons like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, discontinued all cash contests, while My11Circle said in a social media post that it was halting paid games.
PokerBaazi assured users that funds remain safe and withdrawable, even as it stopped real-money offerings. WinZO, which hosted over 100 such games, said it was “responsibly withdrawing impacted offerings,” while MPL confirmed on LinkedIn that users can still withdraw balances despite the suspension of money games.
Foreign investment at stake
The Indian gaming industry has grown rapidly, valued at USD 3.7 billion in 2024 and projected to hit USD 9.1 billion by 2029, according to the India Gaming Report 2025.
With nearly USD 3 billion in FDI inflows over five years and a user base forming 20% of the world’s gamers, India has emerged as one of the largest gaming markets globally. The new law, however, casts uncertainty over this growth trajectory.
Industry reaction divided
While the ban has been welcomed by some as a safeguard against addiction, fraud, and money laundering, industry insiders have flagged unintended consequences. Ananay Jain, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat, called the legislation a “double-edged sword,” noting that while it creates a clear regulatory environment and enforces accountability, blanket restrictions risk stifling innovation and burdening startups.
Players seek relief
Industry bodies such as the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) have written to Home Minister Amit Shah, stressing that the sector represents a Rs 2 lakh crore enterprise valuation with annual revenues of over Rs 31,000 crore. They have urged the government to reconsider the sweeping ban on skill-based money games, warning of job losses and financial setbacks for a sunrise industry.
You may also like
BREAKING: Chase contestant dies one month after winning £100k jackpot
Nykaa takes its beauty battle global to take on cosmetic giants
'Don't watch this film alone as its the scariest of the decade'
Extremely shameful: BJP slams LoP Gandhi, Tejashwi over abusive slogans by party workers against PM Modi during yatra
IBPS Clerk Recruitment 2025: Recruitment to more than 10 thousand posts in IBPS, last chance to apply today
