The unexpected move hit the headlines this morning after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 was pushed through parliament without facing any resistance.
On Wednesday the bill was read in the lower house — Lok Sabha — and it passed a voice vote in the upper house — Rajya Sabha — yesterday. All that is required now is the signature of the Indian President.
What Does the Future Hold for Indian Poker?
This legislation is clearly not a good sign for poker fans in the sub-continent. Already the best known Indian poker platforms Adda52 and MPL Poker have suspended their tournament poker offerings, although cash games are still available.
Global firms such as PokerStars also have a presence in the country and will have to begin to wind down its operations under threat of heavy penalties.
Operators who continue to provide real money games face three years imprisonment and massive fines. Users, however, are seen as victims and will not be prosecuted.
An unnamed executive spoke to the Times of India, explaining that as many as 400 firms will fold if the bill takes effect, including all of the best Indian poker sites. We also read that as many as 200,000 jobs are at risk.
It was also pointed out that the government used to keep a channel of communication open with the gaming industry but this legislation was done without any discussion.
4/ Online Money Games → PROHIBITED
❌ Youth and children addicted, families ruined.
❌ Massive frauds, credit card debt, even suicides.
❌ Money laundering & terror financing concerns.
❌ Misleading celeb ads giving false legitimacy. pic.twitter.com/QgJRJJsMNt— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 21, 2025
We were also reminded that online gaming in India brought in a huge $822 million worth of tax revenue between October 2023 and March 2024. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made it clear that this sudden shift in position by the government was due to the “heavy toll on the youth and middle class.”
Is There Hope of a Fightback?
While we are informed that the President’s consent is but a procedural guarantee, there does appear to be hope that legal pressure on the government could force at least some amount of concession.
Jay Sayta, a technology and gaming lawyer in India, said the change was unconstitutional and the bill would likely be struck down when challenged in the High Court:
“The Bill is extremely problematic, prima facie unconstitutional and not sustainable in law. ‘Betting and gambling’ as well as ‘amusements and entertainments’ are squarely state subjects.
“Parliament has no legislative competence to enact laws on these matters, except under Article 252 of the Constitution, where two or more state legislatures expressly pass a resolution allowing it.”
What Options Do Indian Poker Players Have?
So we know that the lawyers think there is hope to overturn this legislation, but what if they are unsuccessful?
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