PokerBaazi to Dream11: Real Money Gaming Platforms Shut Down After Online Gaming Act Implementation

The Online Gaming Act, 2025, has caused a massive shakeup in India’s real-money gaming sector. With the legislation banning games involving monetary stakes, several major platforms have either paused or permanently discontinued operations involving cash and prizes.

Major Real-Money Gaming Platforms Forced to Shut Down

As per NDTV Profit, following the passage of the Online Gaming Act, 2025, platforms such as Dream11, Rummy Culture, and Zupee were among the first to shut down real-money gaming segments. Dream11 suspended all its cash contests, assuring users that winnings and balances remained safe for withdrawal. Rummy Culture, operated by Gameskraft, paused both its ‘Add Cash’ and gameplay features. Zupee halted all its paid game offerings, including ludo and card-based competitions.

Probo, Pokerbaazi, and Mobile Premier League Also Exit 

Probo, a market prediction trading platform, stopped all money gaming functions and urged users to withdraw their balances. Pokerbaazi, backed by Nazara Technologies, was also forced to evaluate its operations after discontinuing its real-cash services. Mobile Premier League, which hosted various pay-to-play games, completely shut down its cash-based features in response to the new law.

Read More: Online Gaming Ban: Banks Tighten Real-Time Monitoring, RMG Entities Under Scrutiny!

Rush Leaves Indian Market Amid Crypto-Gaming Ban

Rush, a crypto and blockchain-based gaming platform, exited the Indian market entirely post-legislation. Parent firm Hike cited the lack of regulatory clarity and the government’s tightened stance against real-money gaming for choosing to relocate to the US. The platform had previously mixed gaming with digital assets and community features.

Impact on Transactions and Payment Gateways

The real-money gaming ban has hit payment gateways hard, with an estimated impact of ₹30,000 crore, as financial institutions are now barred from facilitating any transactions linked to online games involving money. This disruption affects not just gaming platforms, but also the broader fintech ecosystem that supports instant deposits and withdrawals.

Conclusion

The Online Gaming Act, 2025, has decisively ended real-money gaming in India, leading to an industry-wide pivot. While this marks a drastic regulatory shift, it opens new opportunities in e-sports and free-to-play gaming models, reshaping the future of digital entertainment in the region.

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