Govt ban: Winzo, Nazara, others suspend real-money gaming operations

Real-money gaming (RMG) platforms Winzo and Nazara Technologies announced the suspension of their RMG offerings on Friday, to comply with the new online gaming law. 

On Thursday, prominent players like Dream11, Zupee and Probo said they would halt their RMG products. The firms clarified that their free-to-play offerings would continue to be available across digital applications. 

Nazara, the only publicly listed platform in India, said its associate company Moonshine Technologies had ceased RMG operations. “The company will evaluate the future course of action following the enactment of the Bill,” it said in a statement. 

Nazara had invested ₹805 crore towards equity shares in PokerBaazi parent Moonshine Technology through a combination of cash and stock in 2024. It holds compulsory convertible shares amounting to ₹255 crore. 

Similarly, Winzo said it was “responsibly withdrawing” its RMG offerings in compliance with the new law. The firm claims to have a base of 250 million users. 

MPL also suspended its RMG products on Thursday. “While new deposits will no longer be accepted, customers will be able to withdraw their balances seamlessly,” it said in a statement. 

Head Digital Works said its games such as A23 Rummy, A23 Poker, and Adda 52 Poker were shut down. It added that player deposits can be withdrawn according to company policies. In February, the firm had announced plans to acquire Deltatech Gaming, the company behind the online poker platform Adda52, for ₹491 crore. 

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, bans all forms of RMG and their advertisements in India. It outlines jail terms of up to three years and fines of up to ₹1 crore for anyone offering RMG in the country and prohibits banks from working with companies providing such services. 

Endgame

 

*  The new Bill bans all forms of RMG and their advertisements  

  *  Platforms like Dream11, Zupee and Probo to halt RMG ops

  *  Firms clarified that free-to-play offerings would continue to be available 

  *  Winzo claims to have 250 mn users

  *  Nazara has invested ₹805 crore in PokerBaazi parent

  *  MPL said customers can withdraw balance seamlessly 

Online gaming Bill becomes law after Prez nod 

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill  received  President Droupadi Murmu’s assent on Friday, thereby making it a law. 

The Bill was earlier passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.  

The Bill, which has now become a law, bars any form of RMG as well as its advertisements, recommends jail terms of up to three years and a fine of ₹1 crore for any person that offers RMG in India, and bans banking institutions from working with companies that provide such game services. 

The Bill had been cleared by the Union Cabinet on Tuesday, and was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. 

Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw termed online money games as a ‘public health risk’.