Zupee, notable for its large user base and measured reaction, announced full compliance—immediately ceasing all real-money offerings and pivoting to free content and new verticals. Rather than pursue legal challenges, Zupee is redirecting its energies toward short-video content (akin to Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts) and astrology-based digital services, aiming to monetize through ads, subscriptions, and premium features. With over 150 million registered users, its focus is on retaining engagement and finding new revenue models.
India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, introduced in Parliament and signed into law in August, marks a game-changing shift for the country’s digital landscape. The Act imposes a blanket ban on all real-money online games—regardless of whether they are based on skill or chance—while criminalizing their advertisements.
This new regime is aimed at protecting users, curbing illegal financial flows, and boosting the development of esports and social gaming platforms. Penalties are steep: up to three years in prison and ₹1 crore in fines for service providers, and up to two years’ imprisonment with ₹50 lakh in fines for advertising such games. Financial transactions for banned games are also blocked, and regulators have powers for warrantless search, seizure, and account freezing.
Platforms Pivot as Paid Games Vanish
The law’s impact was immediate. Real-money game offerings disappeared overnight from major platforms like Zupee, MPL, Dream11, WinZO, PokerBaazi, Probo, and more. Companies now operate only free-to-play and casual gaming content—Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, and other non-cash titles remain. New downloads for paid gaming apps have plunged—Zupee’s installs are down nearly 95%, while MPL and WinZO saw drops of 60–95%. Layoffs, operational downsizing, and revenue disruptions have hit the sector hard.
Recently, Virat Kohli-Backed MPL Lays Off 60% of Indian Workforce as Real-Money Gaming Ban Hits.
Read this: Cricketers’ Favourite MPL, Zupee, Probo, and Others Shut Down Real-Money Gaming
How Platforms Are Adapting
WinZO, another top player, has invested in content ventures and is exploring international expansion, particularly in the US, alongside launching “ZO TV,” its short-form video platform. Other startups are weighing similar content pivots and cross-border business models.
Legal Challenges and Ongoing Debate
Some industry bodies and companies have contested the ban in various High Courts, arguing that the law’s blanket ban—without distinguishing skill from chance—is unconstitutional and undermines legitimate business. The Supreme Court has taken over these cases to ensure consistency, and is set to decide the law’s fate and provide clarity for the future of India’s online gaming ecosystem.
Wider Implications and Next Steps
The consequences of this sweeping ban extend far beyond gaming operators. Payment partners, advertisers, digital creators, affiliates, and event organizers who relied on the real-money game ecosystem now face business uncertainty and major revenue losses. Meanwhile, the government is positioning esports, social, educational, and “safe” games for growth, with a new authority to oversee compliance and game certification.
The Road Ahead
For legacy players like Dream11, MPL, and others, the survival plan now revolves around quick adaptability—focusing on compliance, new consumer verticals, retaining user loyalty, and exploring global opportunities. Whether these pivots lead to long-term success in content, esports, or entertainment—or simply mark a painful transition out of a once-booming industry—remains to be seen.
Read this: Dream11 Parent Launches “Dream Money,” Allowing Users to Invest in Gold & FDs
India’s online gaming overhaul represents one of the biggest regulatory disruptions in recent tech memory. While some startups double down on innovation to survive, the ultimate story will be shaped by legal outcomes, user acceptance, and the ability of digital platforms to redefine themselves in this new era.
