Crackdown on Online Gaming: WinZO, Zupee, Dream11, and Others Halt Operations Due to New Bill

A wave of shutdowns has hit the online gaming industry in India following the passage of the Online Gaming Bill, 2025. This bill, which cleared both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, targets online money gaming platforms. It aims to ban these potentially harmful platforms and simultaneously foster the growth of e-sports and social gaming. The legislation also includes measures to prohibit advertisements for money games and restrict financial transactions associated with them. Furthermore, it seeks to ban online betting and gambling, including games like poker, rummy, and fantasy sports. Platforms directly affected by the changes include WinZO, Mobile Premier League, and Zupee. Other platforms like PokerBaazi, RummyCulture, Dream11, A23 Rummy, A23 Poker, and Probo have also announced the discontinuation of their money-based games. The new rules are poised to reshape India’s robust $3.8 billion gaming sector, affecting investments and the operations of popular fantasy sports platforms.