India moves to ban money-based online games, gives reasons

India is preparing legislation to ban online games played with money, a move that could hit an industry that has drawn billions of dollars in foreign investment.

According to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, reviewed by Reuters, no person “shall offer, aid, abet, induce or otherwise indulge or engage in” providing online money games or related services. The bill cites psychological and financial harm linked to such games.

The 13-page draft defines an online money game as one where users deposit money with the expectation of winning cash or other rewards.

India’s online gaming market is projected to be worth $3.6 billion by 2029, according to venture capital firm Lumikai. Real-money gaming apps, such as fantasy cricket platforms Dream11 and Mobile Premier League (MPL), have grown rapidly with endorsements from leading cricketers and heavy marketing.

Dream11 is currently valued at $8 billion, while MPL’s valuation stands at $2.5 billion, data from PitchBook shows.

The government has long expressed concern that such games encourage addictive behaviour. The bill warns that anyone offering money games could face up to three years in prison and a fine.

“Such games often use manipulative design features, addictive algorithms … while promoting compulsive behaviour leading to financial ruin,” the bill said.

India’s IT ministry, which drafted the legislation, has not commented publicly. Dream11 and MPL also declined to comment.

On Dream11, users can join fantasy cricket contests by paying as little as 8 rupees (10 U.S. cents), with prize pools reaching as much as 1.2 million rupees ($14,000). The platforms see peak activity during the Indian Premier League, one of the world’s biggest cricket tournaments.

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