For many years, poker and fantasy sports have been legal because they were considered “games of skill”, which are different from games of chance such as roulette or slot machines. Recently, however, India has banned online poker and cash games.
This protection has been lifted because lawmakers argue that the government needs to take action because of the addiction, the financial collapse and the possibility that the platforms will be used for illegal activities such as money laundering or even terrorist financing.
The decision signals that India is banning online poker, which will have a significant impact on the poker industry as a whole.
The poker industry is experiencing its first shocks
The news has already caused outrage among many players in the Indian poker market.
A poker industry professional reports that PokerStars India and Junglee Games have immediately stopped accepting deposits.
This news comes after the parent company Flutter recently released a new platform for Indian users.
And PokerBaazi, one of the largest poker sites in the country, has gone even further and stopped all real money games.
“The World Poker Tour (WPT) and PokerBaazi entered into a partnership a year ago to allow Indian players to participate in live games around the world.
“Nikhil Singh, founder of Baazi Games, said the decision was a difficult one. He said it was “a break, not a goodbye” and that the law was “the darkest day in the history of Indian poker”.
When regulated gambling is not available, players can turn to foreign or illegal websites, which also do not protect customers.
Not just poker: fantasy sports and cricket sponsorship at risk
The impact will not be limited to poker. India's fantasy sports industry will become much more volatile.
If the law comes into force, large companies such as Dream11 and MPL will have to close their core business. These companies have made billions of dollars from running paid fantasy cricket tournaments.
Some of the consequences will not only be felt in the gaming sector. Some of the biggest sponsors of Indian cricket are fantasy sports companies.
They invest money in the Indian Premier League (IPL), local events and even the national team. The closure could make it very difficult to fund sports teams across the country.
A blow to a fast-growing market
The Indian gaming industry has been growing rapidly. According to the India Gaming Report 2025, the market was worth €3.7 billion. USD 7.7 billion.
By 2029, it is expected to be worth over USD 9.1 billion. USD. India has more than 15% of the app downloads and almost 20% of the global players, although it represents only 1.1% of the global market.
Industry groups are frightened by this sudden change.
The All India Gaming Federation and the Fantasy Sports Federation of India in a joint statement have spoken out against the Bill: “This Bill may not protect people, but on the contrary, may expose them to the risk of fraud, exploitation and unsafe practices
What next?
Most experts believe that the law will be passed and that those who violate it could face up to three years imprisonment and heavy fines.
This is one of the most important changes in the history of online gaming in India. It will affect not only poker and fantasy sports games, but also cricket, advertising and the entire technology industry.
