The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has pledged its support to the nation’s gaming industry following the passing of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.
The bill was approved by India’s parliament and is now just awaiting President Droupadi Murmu to sign it into law, which would serve as a damaging blow to multiple real-money gaming (RMG) operators in the market.
The bill, which bans real-money gaming, fantasy sports, poker, rummy and online lotteries, labels such games as “addictive”, as well as containing “manipulative design features” that could spark “financial ruin” for users.
The legislation has already been met with a flurry of high-profile operators withdrawing their offerings, most notably in Flutter Entertainment, parent company of Junglee Games, the studio behind Junglee Rummy, Junglee Poker and DFS platform Howzat.
All three of the aforementioned sites now show messages informing users that cash games and tournaments have been discontinued.
However, the AIGF’s CEO Roland Landers has spoken out in defence of RMG in a recent statement, which read: “RMG, despite its criticisms, has been a massive driver of India’s gaming economy.
“Its growth funded world-class studios, provided capital to smaller developers, invested in venture capital funds that went on to back promising Indian gaming and tech startups, enabled large-scale industry events, supported sports, AVGC and gaming ecosystems and created thousands of jobs.
“Importantly, this was a legitimate industry that attracted top minds from leading institutions that dedicated themselves to building a new digital sector for India.”
The trade body CEO continued, noting that the recent law changes will not only impact RMG operators, but the “broader ecosystem”, including suppliers and indie studios, that relied on the “strength and capital of the wider gaming industry”.
Landers added that more clarity is required to flesh out the new legislation, most notably in how free-to-play developers and those in the esports sector will be impacted.
Ahead of consultations between industry stakeholders and government figures, Landers noted: “This process will be critical in shaping the future of free-to-play developers, esports and the wider eco-system and, together with our colleagues at the All India Game Developers Forum, we will continue to ensure that the sector’s voice is strongly represented.”
As per the India Gaming Report 2025, the Indian market – including all forms of digital gaming – is worth $3.7bn (£2.8bn) and could reach a valuation of $9.1bn by 2029, though the recent legislation change could impact that figure.
The post Indian trade body launches defence of real-money gaming sector amid impending ban first appeared on EGR Intel.
All India Gaming Federation talks up the positives of the scrutinised RMG sector as the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill awaits presidential approval
The post Indian trade body launches defence of real-money gaming sector amid impending ban first appeared on EGR Intel.