1.46 billion people have just been barred from doing this on their phones, are you one of them?

No more real-money games: the industry is shocked.

0comments
A person's hand holding a phone.
Some doom scroll through TikTok, some obsess with selfies, but many – and that's the truth right here – use their phones for online gambling and various real-money games.

India, the most populous country (1.46 billion people) in the world right now, shocked many yesterday. India's booming online gaming sector took a severe blow after parliament passed a sweeping bill to ban all real-money online games, advertisements tied to them, and related financial transactions.


– Federal IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, August 2025

The legislation, formally called the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, was pushed forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which argued that such games pose a high risk of financial loss and can cause long-term psychological harm. Lawmakers framed the move as a necessary step to address what they described as a growing social evil.

Should online real-money games be banned?



The sudden decision has sent shockwaves through the industry, which was valued in the billions and projected to reach $3.6 billion by 2029. Backed by major investors, India's fantasy sports and real-money gaming platforms had been expanding rapidly, drawing millions of users who created cricket teams on Dream11, played rummy and poker on Games24x7, or joined prize pools on Mobile Premier League. Overnight, the future of these companies was thrown into doubt, as another report states.

In the hours following the ban, some of India's biggest platforms, including Dream11, PokerBaazi, and Mobile Premier League, suspended their money-based gaming features.

Industry executives are bracing for layoffs, closures, and the collapse of an ecosystem that had drawn billions in foreign funding and offered tens of thousands of jobs. At the same time, gaming associations and company leaders are preparing legal challenges.

They argue that the government rushed the bill without consultation, that the sweeping definition unfairly includes skill-based games like poker, and that the measure risks wiping out a legitimate and thriving sector.

Recommended Stories
Personally, I can relate to both sides of the argument: online gambling can be (and definitely is) a tragedy for too many people, but responsible adults shouldn't be barred from playing a poker game or two, if they feel like it. Then again, how does a government control online gambling besides banning it? It's a complicated digital world we're living in, folks.

"Iconic Phones" is coming this Fall!


Good news everyone! Over the past year we've been working on an exciting passion project of ours and we're thrilled to announce it will be ready to release in just a few short months.

"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a must-have coffee table book for every tech-head that will bring you on a journey to relive the greatest technological revolution of the 21st century. For more details, simply follow the link below!

LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP FOR EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS HERE

Grab the Galaxy S25 + 2 Yrs Unlimited – only $30/mo from Mint Mobile

With Galaxy AI – port-in & $720 upfront required


We may earn a commission if you make a purchase

Check Out The Offer
Loading Comments...

Recommended Stories

FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless