India’s New Online Gaming Law to Come into Effect from October 1

India will enforce a big new law from October 1, 2025 to overhaul how real money online gaming is handled. The law aims to ban predatory practices, protect users — especially kids — and formalise the gaming industry.

Key Law: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025

Official text of the bill is here on PRS India. Key points:

  • Prohibit offering, facilitating, promoting or advertising online games for money, including games of skill or chance.
  • Exemptions for e-sports, online social games, and educational games with frameworks for promotion and regulation.
  • Penalties: imprisonment and/or fines for service providers, advertisers or financial facilitators who violate the law.

What’s Changing & What’s Allowed

  • No real money games: no stakes, wagers or rewards tied to deposits.
  • Advertising, promotion and payments tied to such games will be prohibited.
  • Players themselves are not criminalised under this act; liability is on providers, promoters, advertisers etc.

Why It Matters

  • To protect vulnerable populations from gambling addictions, financial harm, and psychological or social issues.
  • Legal recognition and support for e-sports, social gaming and educational gaming.
  • Companies, platforms, advertisers and financial service providers will have to review compliance; big changes ahead for how online gaming is monetised and promoted.