In August 2025, India’s Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. It is one of the most significant changes to the country’s gaming rules in years. This article gives a general overview for readers; it is not legal advice, and you should always refer to the official text of the law and its rules.
The three categories in the law
The Act separates online games into three broad groups:
- E-sports – competitive video gaming, which the law recognises and aims to promote as a legitimate sport.
- Online social and educational games – games played for entertainment or learning, which are also encouraged.
- Online games involving stakes – games where a user pays or deposits in the expectation of winning something in return. These are prohibited, whether they are described as games of skill or chance.
What is prohibited
- Offering or operating online games that involve stakes.
- Advertising or promoting such games, including through influencers and websites.
- Banks and payment providers processing transactions for these games.
The law sets out penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines, for those who offer, promote or facilitate prohibited games. Users themselves are generally treated as people to be protected rather than as offenders.
What is encouraged
The Act aims to support e-sports and safe social gaming through recognition, training programmes and a national regulatory authority. Rules issued under the Act in 2026 provide further detail on how this framework operates.
What this means for everyday users
- Free and social games, including card games played purely for entertainment, remain available.
- Users should be cautious of any app or website that asks for deposits to play.
- Websites and creators should avoid promoting prohibited games.
The wider context
The law followed years of debate about addiction, financial harm and fraud linked to online games involving stakes. Major advertising platforms have also tightened their policies in India, with Google announcing in January 2026 that it would no longer allow rummy and fantasy sports advertising in the country.
Staying informed
Gaming regulation can continue to evolve through rules, notifications and court decisions. For accurate and current information, check official government sources such as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
