Indian Parliament Bans Real-Money Games, MPL Dream Sports Suspend Operations

India's Parliament has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans all forms of real-money online gaming while promoting casual games and eSports. Following the bill's passage, major Indian online gaming companies including Mobile Premier League (MPL), Dream Sports, and Zupee have suspended their real-money gaming operations in India. MPL, with over 120 million users globally, announced it would immediately halt all money-based games on its platform, allowing users to withdraw existing balances but stopping new deposits. Dream Sports also plans to shut down its real-money gaming business entirely once the legislation becomes law. The bill's approval reflects the government's concerns over financial risks associated with online money games. This legislative change has prompted a significant operational shift in India's online gaming sector, with startups pulling back from real-money offerings to comply with the new legal framework.