Image Source : Hindustan Times
India’s online real-money gaming sector faces a dramatic upheaval as Flutter Entertainment has officially halted all real-money gaming offerings from its Junglee subsidiary. This strategic move comes in direct response to the recent enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a legislative measure that imposes a comprehensive ban on real-money online games across the country. With a workforce exceeding 1,100 employees and significant market presence, Junglee's shutdown signals major consequences for the industry and its stakeholders.
Key Takeaways Confirming The Shift
Flutter Entertainment, a global leader in interactive entertainment, has ceased the real-money gaming operations run by its Indian subsidiary Junglee Games.
The halt follows the Indian Parliament's passage of the Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which removes the legal distinction between games of skill and chance when money is involved.
The law bans offering, aiding, advertising, or facilitating any real-money online games, including poker, rummy, fantasy sports, and other skill- or chance-based contests with monetary stakes.
The bill mandates strict penalties: up to three years imprisonment and fines as high as ₹1 crore for hosting such games, with promoters and advertisers facing severe consequences.
Financial institutions are barred from processing transactions linked to these real-money gaming activities, effectively cutting off payment channels.
Industry giants such as Dream11, MPL, PokerBaazi, and others have similarly suspended their real-money gaming products, anticipating the law's formal enforcement.
Implications For The Indian Gaming Landscape
The new legislation represents a paradigm shift that overturns decades-long legal protections enjoyed by games formerly classified as skill-based, such as online poker and fantasy sports platforms. It signals the government’s intent to clamp down on concerns ranging from gambling addiction and financial distress among users, to potential misuse of platforms for money laundering and other illegal activities.
Junglee Games, once poised for growth within India’s burgeoning digital entertainment ecosystem, must now pivot or drastically scale back operations. Flutter’s decision to suspend real-money gaming functionalities reflects both compliance with the law and precaution amid regulatory uncertainty. Over 1,100 employees linked to Junglee may face operational changes as the company transitions to alternate business models.
Wider Industry Disruptions And Economic Consequences
With major operators halting real-money games, user engagement and revenue streams are expected to contract sharply in the short term.
Estimates place the size of India’s online gaming market at approximately USD 3.8 billion in 2025, with projections to grow beyond USD 9 billion by 2029—growth that now faces significant headwinds.
Advertising spending linked to fantasy sports and real-money platforms, which previously funded lucrative partnerships including Indian Premier League sponsorships, risks sharp decline.
The exit or slowdown of established firms could lead to a talent drain and reduced investor confidence, impacting startups and related tech sectors.
There is concern within the industry about potential migration of users to offshore and unregulated platforms, which may worsen consumer protection risks.
Overview Of The New Legal Framework
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, passed swiftly through both houses of Parliament and awaits the President’s assent. The act comprehensively:
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Prohibits all forms of online games where real money stakes or deposits are involved.
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Bans advertisements promoting real-money online gaming.
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Restricts financial transactions to cut off payments related to such platforms.
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Imposes criminal liability on company directors and officers responsible for violations.
Simultaneously promotes the development of e-sports and social, non-monetized games to encourage safer, skill-based competitive gaming.
Looking Ahead: Industry Response And Prospects
Flutter’s pause on Junglee’s real-money activity likely presages a wider industry reset. Companies are exploring pivots toward free-to-play models, e-sports, and newer digital entertainment verticals. Some firms are also eyeing international expansions or diversifying into other digital service areas such as financial products.
However, this abrupt regulatory environment change has been described by insiders as among the most challenging periods for India’s digital gaming industry. The balance between protecting consumers from gambling-related harms and nurturing an innovative, high-growth sector remains delicate.
In this unfolding scenario, monitoring how Flutter and other players adapt will provide insights into the medium-term trajectory of India’s sizeable but now heavily redefined online gaming market.
Sources: Reuters, Poker Industry Pro, YourStory, Jagran Josh, TechCrunch, Business Standard
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