Table of Contents Show
India’s online gaming landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The legislation, which has received Presidential approval and is now law, has drawn sharp criticism from prominent industry figures, particularly Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com and judge on Shark Tank India.
The Legislative Impact
The new law imposes comprehensive restrictions on real money online gaming platforms, effectively banning operations of major players including Dream11 and WinZO. The legislation carries severe penalties, with violations punishable by imprisonment of up to three years and fines reaching Rs 1 crore for operators. Repeat violations attract enhanced penalties of three to five years imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 2 crore.
Economic Concerns Raised
Mittal has been vocal about his opposition to the ban, describing the economic impact in stark terms in a LinkedIn post on Thursday. “In one shot, we killed a sector that pumped in Rs 27,000 crore of GST annually, drove Rs 10,000 crore of ad revenue, and gave thousands a legit livelihood in games of skill,” he stated. The entrepreneur argues that eliminating this regulated sector will result in significant financial losses for the government.
Industry Transformation
The immediate impact has been swift and decisive. “This feels like we’ve shot ourselves in the foot,” Mittal remarked about the policy implementation. Dream Sports, the parent company of Dream11, has already ceased its real money gaming operations, while WinZO has withdrawn affected offerings from its platform. Industry estimates suggest that approximately 400,000 companies and 200,000 jobs could be affected, with around Rs 25,000 crore in investments potentially at risk.
Future Implications
Mittal’s primary concern centers on unintended consequences, as he warns in his social media post that prohibition typically creates predictable outcomes. “Most bans have similar outcomes: government loses revenue, users lose protection, and black markets thrive,” he observed. His analysis suggests this may strengthen India’s existing illegal gaming market, estimated at Rs 8.3 lakh crore, rather than addressing addiction concerns through regulation.
The debate reflects broader questions about policy effectiveness, with Mittal questioning the underlying logic: “Do we ban alcohol because some become alcoholics? Do we ban stock trading because some blow up their savings?” He concluded his critique by calling the legislation “moral policing dressed up as policy,” while expressing hope that it might eventually benefit regulated gaming and e-sports, though adding, “Hope we’re not trying to out ban China.”
The debate reflects broader questions about balancing consumer protection with economic growth in India’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
