In what some are calling the “darkest day for poker in India”, the Indian president is expected to sign legislation effectively outlawing online poker alongside all forms of real-money online gaming nationwide.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill cleared both houses of parliament this week and removes the long-standing legal distinction between games of skill and games of chance
This classification had previously protected poker and fantasy sports operators. However, lawmakers cited concerns over gambling addiction, financial ruin, and even the potential misuse of gaming platforms for money laundering and terror financing.
“People lose their life’s savings in online money gaming,” India’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament. “It is the duty of the government and the parliament to take strict action against social evils, which keep erupting time and again.”
Impact on Poker
The announcement sent shockwaves through the industry. According to Poker Industry Pro,PokerStars India and Junglee Games have already halted deposits, less than six months after parent company Flutter migrated player pools to a newly developed Poker Platform tailored to the Indian gaming community.
Meanwhile, PokerBaazi suspended its real-money offerings entirely. Just last year, PokerBaazi had partnered with the World Poker Tour to allow Indian players to satellite into live WPT events worldwide.
Navkiran Singh, Co-founder of Baazi Games, said that the decision to halt services was “a pause, not a goodbye” and described the Bill as “the darkest day in the history of poker in India.”
Many in the industry are now worried about the possibility of players migrating to offshore or unregulated sites, creating risks for conusmer safety.
Impact on Other Areas: Fantasy Sports & Indian Cricket
If poker has been dealt a devastating hand, fantasy sports operators face an even larger upheaval. Companies like Dream11 and MPL, which built multi-billion-dollar businesses on paid fantasy cricket contests, have been forced to shut down their flagship products.
The ripple effects extend well beyond the gaming industry. Fantasy platforms have been among the biggest financial backers of Indian cricket, sponsoring Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, domestic tournaments, and even the national team.
Indian Gambling Industry
According to the India Gaming Report 2025, the domestic gaming market was valued at USD 3.7 billion and was projected to reach USD 9.1 billion by 2029.
Despite representing just 1.1% of the global gaming market, India accounts for roughly 20% of the world’s gaming user base and over 15% of global gaming app downloads.
The All India Gaming Federation and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports issued a joint statement earlier this week:
“Instead of protecting people, this bill risks exposing them to fraud, exploitation and unsafe practices.”
Under the new law, anyone found in violation could face up to three years in jail and heavy fines, underscoring the scale of change now confronting India’s gaming community.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. The Bill awaits Presidential approval, although it is widely expected that he will sign it into law.
Managing Editor
