Responsible Gaming and the Law in India
Last updated: October 20, 2026
What the law says
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 has been in force since 1 May 2026. It prohibits online money games, advertising them, and banks or payment apps processing payments for them. Games played for free, with no money staked, are not the target of the law.
The penalties are aimed at the companies that run and promote money games, not at players. But players are the ones left without protection when an app holds a balance or stops paying out, which is why we don't recommend depositing money in any gaming app.
Set your limits first
Decide how long you will play before you open the app, and stop when the time is up. Never play with money you need for rent, bills or family, never borrow to play, and never try to win back a loss. A card game should stay a pastime.
Warning signs
- You play for longer, or with more money, than you planned.
- You try to win back what you lost (chasing losses).
- You borrow money, or use money meant for bills, to play.
- You hide how much you play from family or friends.
- You feel restless or irritable when you can't play.
If any of these sound familiar, take a break and talk to someone you trust.
Free help
Tele-MANAS 14416: the Government of India's free mental health helpline, open 24 hours, in many Indian languages.
Cyber fraud 1930: if someone posing as app support took money or your OTP, call 1930 or report it at cybercrime.gov.in as soon as you can.
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