Govt Mulls Support Measures for Those Affected by Online Money-Gaming Ban: IT Minister Vaishnaw

Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said the government will extend support to people who may lose jobs as a result of the ban on online money gaming platforms.

Responding to concerns about possible layoffs in the sector, Vaishnaw said: “We will make all attempts to support the people who are affected by it.” The ban, introduced through the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, is expected to impact several companies that operate real-money gaming services.

Such firms have drawn large amounts of domestic and foreign venture capital in recent years. “When there is a large social issue affecting youngsters and middle-income families, the government has to choose people over industry,” Vaishnaw added.

When asked if the government would provide a transition period for companies to change their business model, the minister said, “Let the law take its own course. Everybody in the country must follow the law of the land.”

While the government prohibits the operations of online money games, Vaishnaw reiterated that the government remains committed to promoting esports and online social games, which he said were “good for society.” “We have already created programmes to promote the positive side of gaming. For game developers, we will support them with better tools, better technologies and easier access... We also welcome suggestions from the industry and stakeholders on what more can be done, and we will certainly provide strong support,” Vaishnaw assured.

Future of Real-Money Gaming

India’s top real-money gaming (RMG) companies such as Dream11’s parent company Dream Sports, Gameskraft, Mobile Premier League (MPL) and Zupee have begun suspending contests and games involving money on their platforms. The RMG industry generated about $2.4 billion in revenue in FY24, accounting for a bulk of the revenues of India’s overall gaming industry that stood at $3.8 billion for the year.

Vaishnaw has pledged support for workers potentially affected by the newly enacted ban on online money gaming platforms. Parliament approved the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, on August 21, 2025, targeting real-money online games for their social risks while promising to strengthen sectors like esports and skill-based gaming.

As leading industry platforms suspend operations and tens of thousands of jobs are threatened, stakeholders from industry, government and civil society are engaged in urgent dialogue on the future of India’s digital gaming ecosystem.

The swift ban on online money gaming including fantasy sports, rummy, poker and teen patti platforms has triggered shockwaves in the Indian digital economy. According to industry estimates, nearly 100,000 direct and indirect jobs are at risk as platforms like Dream11, Gameskraft, MPL and Zupee begin shutting down their real-money offerings.

Employment of Affected

Minister Vaishnaw assured that government agencies, such as the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), will actively work to retrain and provide alternative employment opportunities for those affected. “The laws we have brought are for the good of society but we remain committed to standing by every Indian whose job and livelihood is impacted,” he stated.

Vaishnaw also invited the gaming industry to participate in shaping policies for the burgeoning esports and online skill games segment, describing the latter as “positive avenues for youth engagement, learning, and digital entrepreneurship.”

The government is reportedly considering new incentive schemes and public-private partnerships to help transition talent and capital into legitimate, innovation-oriented digital games that comply with the new law.

By banning all forms of online games involving money stakes, prohibiting advertisements and related financial transactions and instituting penalties for non-compliance, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 marks a major regulatory reset.