Online Gaming in India: The Law Explained
Last reviewed · General information, not legal advice.
In short
Online games played for money are banned in India. Free games played with virtual coins are allowed. That's why every game on YonoPlayz is now free-to-play or practice mode, and we no longer list or link to any real-money app.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025
Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (often shortened to "PROGA") in August 2025. It creates one national rule for online gaming and divides games into three groups:
- Online money games: banned. Any game where you pay or deposit money, or put up other stakes, hoping to win money or other stakes in return. It doesn't matter whether the game is based on skill, chance or both, so the old "game of skill" argument for rummy and fantasy apps no longer applies.
- Online social games: allowed. Games played for entertainment, recreation or skill-building, with no stakes.
- E-sports: allowed and promoted. Organised competitive gaming is recognised as a legitimate sport.
What exactly is banned
- Offering an online money game, or helping someone offer one. Penalty: up to 3 years in prison and/or a fine of up to ₹1 crore.
- Advertising or promoting an online money game in any media, including by influencers and websites. Penalty: up to 2 years and/or up to ₹50 lakh.
- Processing payments. Banks and payment providers may not handle money for online money games. Penalty: up to 3 years and/or up to ₹1 crore.
Repeat offences carry heavier penalties. The Act also lets the government set up an Online Gaming Authority to decide whether a game counts as a money game, and to block access to illegal platforms.
What this means for players
The penalties target operators, advertisers and payment facilitators, not players. But a real-money app operating in India today is doing so illegally, so deposits, bonuses and balances in such apps have no protection. If an app is still asking you to "add cash" or promising withdrawals, stop using it. If you have lost money to one, report it at cybercrime.gov.in or call the national cyber-crime helpline 1930.
Why YonoPlayz is now free-to-play
YonoPlayz used to list apps with real-money features. Because the Act bans promoting online money games, we have removed every listing we could not confirm as free-to-play, and those pages now return "410 Gone". Every game we list now:
- uses virtual coins or chips only, with no monetary value;
- has no deposits and no way to turn coins into money, vouchers or prizes;
- is marked Free-to-Play or Practice Mode on its listing.
If you spot a listed game that asks for money or offers cash prizes, please tell us and we will remove it.
Frequently asked questions
Is real-money gaming legal in India?
No. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans offering, advertising and processing payments for online money games, which are games played for stakes in the hope of winning money, whether they rely on skill or chance.
Is it still legal to play free card games online?
Yes. Online social games and e-sports that involve no stakes are allowed, and the Act aims to promote them. A rummy or Teen Patti game played with virtual chips that can never be exchanged for money is a social game.
Will I be punished for playing a real-money game?
The Act's penalties are aimed at people who offer, advertise or facilitate payments for online money games, not at players. You should still stop using such apps, as they now operate illegally and your money may not be safe.
Learn more
This page summarises the law for general information only. It is not legal advice. Laws, rules and their interpretation can change; for your specific situation, consult a qualified lawyer or the official text of the Act.