Mumbai, 9 September 2026. A year ago India switched off its legal real-money gaming industry overnight. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) was signed on 22 August 2025, its rules were notified in April 2026, and it covers casino games, rummy, poker, sports betting and paid fantasy contests nationwide. Free-to-enter fantasy and esports stay legal.
What enforcement looks like
- By early 2026 the government had blocked more than 7,800 betting and gambling websites and apps.
- Payment processors and app stores were told to cut off real-money gaming products.
- The 28% GST on real-money gaming stays on the books for whatever survives.
The cricket fallout
Dream11 ended its front-of-shirt deal with the BCCI within days of the law, leaving India without a shirt sponsor going into the Asia Cup. My11Circle's annual deal worth roughly US$15 million was terminated, and IPL franchises such as Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad had to find new partners before the 2026 season.
Where the money went
Reports since September 2025 describe the predictable effect: punters moved to offshore sites that were never licensed in India in the first place. That is the market this site covers, and the ban does not change our advice: use only operators with a recognised international licence, deposit through channels you control, keep stakes small and treat every "no KYC" promise as a warning sign.
Sources: ABC Asia, Al Jazeera, Gamesforum, Malay Mail (2025–2026).
Author
Jarin Ahmed
