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Since 1 May 2026, India's Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans online money games, whether based on skill or chance. Offering them carries up to 3 years' imprisonment or a ₹1 crore fine, and advertising them up to 2 years or ₹50 lakh. A Supreme Court challenge is pending.
Last checked: 5 October 2026 against the Act’s official text. General information, not legal advice.
An earlier version of this page said we had not reviewed the Act’s text and could only report what other sources said about it. We have now read it, and this page summarises what it actually says, with links to the official text so you can check it yourself.
The short version
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (Act 32 of 2025) has been in force across India since 1 May 2026. It bans online money games, meaning games where you pay or deposit money or other stakes expecting to win money or other rewards. It applies whether the game is based on skill, chance, or both. Real-money rummy, slots, bingo, and similar apps are covered.
Timeline
- August 2025: Parliament passes the Act.
- 2026: the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 are notified, setting up the Online Gaming Authority of India.
- 1 May 2026: the Act comes into force nationwide.
- Pending: a challenge to the Act’s constitutional validity before the Supreme Court of India.
What it prohibits
- Section 5: offering, or aiding or inducing the offering of, an online money game or online money gaming service.
- Section 6: making, or causing to be made, any advertisement in any media that directly or indirectly promotes online money games.
- Section 7: banks, financial institutions, and anyone facilitating payments engaging in or facilitating transactions towards online money gaming services.
Penalties
| Offence | Maximum penalty (Section 9) |
|---|---|
| Offering an online money game (s. 5) | Up to 3 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to ₹1 crore, or both |
| Advertising online money games (s. 6) | Up to 2 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to ₹50 lakh, or both |
| Facilitating payments (s. 7) | Up to 3 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to ₹1 crore, or both |
The penalties are aimed at those who offer, promote, or process payments for these games.
What the Act allows
The Act separately recognises and promotes e-sports and online social games played without money stakes. The Online Gaming Authority of India classifies games and can direct banks to block payments to online money games.
What this means for the “skill game” argument
For years, real-money rummy apps relied on rummy being treated as a game of skill, outside most state gambling laws. The Act removes that distinction for online play: a game played for money stakes is prohibited whether it is skill-based or not. App banners still saying “100% legal, skill game” describe the position before May 2026.
What it means for the apps on this site
Most platforms in our directory take deposits and pay cash prizes. Played that way, they are online money games under the Act. Our guides describe these apps and their files so readers can identify them and stay safe. They are not an invitation to play for money.
Things we can’t tell you
- How the Supreme Court will rule on the pending challenge.
- How the Act applies to your specific situation. For that, consult a lawyer.
Sources
- The Act on India Code (official text)
- The Act as published by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (PDF)
- Press Information Bureau note
- Supreme Court Observer: the constitutional challenge
For the same information as a reference page, see online gaming law in India.