Online Gaming Bill 2025 Forces RMG Platforms To Suspend Paid Games

India’s leading real money gaming (RMG) companies, including Dream Sports, Gameskraft, Mobile Premier League (MPL), and Zupee, have started suspending all games involving real money following the government’s passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025.

The new bill bans all online money games, where players stake money with the expectation of financial returns, whether the games are skill-based or chance-based. It also empowers authorities to search premises and arrest suspects without a warrant in case of violations.

Dream Sports Pauses ‘Pay to Play’ Contests

Dream Sports has suspended all ‘Pay to Play’ contests on its recently launched fantasy sports app, Dream Picks, as well as its casual RMG app, Dream Play.

The company issued a notice on the app stating, “In view of the recent development pertaining to The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, we are pausing all ‘Pay to Play’ Fantasy Sports contests on our platform. Your account balance is safe and available for you to withdraw from the Dream11 app.”

Zupee, which focuses on board games, suspended all paid games while remaining fully operational.

A company spokesperson said, “Zupee remains fully operational and our players can continue to enjoy their favourite games on the platform. In line with the new Online Gaming Bill 2025, we are discontinuing paid games, but our hugely popular free titles like Ludo Supreme, Ludo Turbo, Snakes & Ladders, and Trump Card Mania will continue to be available for all users for free.”

Other platforms, including Mobile Premier League (MPL) and Gameskraft, have halted all money-related gaming offerings, assuring users that they can withdraw their balances seamlessly.

Government Cites Addiction and Crime

The government introduced the bill, citing the rise in online money gaming, which has led to addiction, financial loss, and crime. It proposes:

• Three years’ imprisonment and Rs 1 crore fine for those offering, promoting, or engaging in RMG.
• Two years’ imprisonment or Rs 50 lakh fine for advertising, promoting, or sponsoring such games.

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