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Parliament has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 (Lok Sabha on Aug 21; Rajya Sabha on Aug 22). Presidential assent and notification are the remaining formalities before it becomes enforceable law.
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The Bill bans real-money online games nationwide (including fantasy apps like Howzat, Dream11, MPL, My11Circle, etc.), blocks ads and payments, and sets criminal penalties.
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Once notified, this becomes a uniform, India-wide prohibition—so the question “Which states ban Howzat?” becomes largely moot: it’s banned everywhere in India under the central law.
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Before 2025, some states already acted (e.g., Andhra Pradesh; Tamil Nadu and Karnataka attempted bans with mixed/contested outcomes). The central law now standardizes the position across states.
What the 2025 Bill Actually Does (and why it matters to Howzat)
Core intent: Promote e-sports and social/casual gaming, but ban real-money gaming (RMG) and online betting due to addiction, financial loss, fraud/money-laundering, and security concerns.
Key provisions you should know:
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Blanket ban on “online money games”: Any online game where users deposit money or items of monetary value for the chance of monetary rewards is prohibited.
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Payment rails blocked: Banks and payment gateways are barred from processing transactions for such games.
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Ad & promotion ban: Advertising, endorsements, and promotional content for money-gaming are prohibited.
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Penalties (illustrative, as reported):
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Offering/facilitating money gaming: up to 3 years’ imprisonment and/or fine up to ₹1 crore.
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Advertising money games: up to 2 years’ imprisonment and/or fine up to ₹50 lakh.
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In some write-ups: repeat offences may draw 3–5 years and up to ₹2 crore; certain offences are described as cognizable and non-bailable.
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Regulatory setup: A central authority (under MeitY) to oversee the sector, promote e-sports/social gaming, and enforce the prohibitions.
Implication for Howzat:
Because Howzat is a real-money fantasy sports platform, it squarely falls within the prohibited category once the Act is notified. Payments will be blocked, promotions disallowed, and operating the RMG product would trigger penalties.
So… “Which States Ban Howzat” After the Bill?
Short answer: All of them, once the central law takes effect.
The Bill is national in scope. After Presidential assent and notification, real-money online gaming becomes illegal across India, superseding the patchwork of state rules for RMG. That means Howzat would be banned nationwide, not only in specific states.
What about the situation before the 2025 Bill?
Based on the articles you shared, here’s the high-level picture that was referenced:
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Andhra Pradesh (2020): Implemented restrictions against online money gaming in response to harms and distress.
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Tamil Nadu (2021): Attempted a broad ban on online games (including some skill-based formats); that specific law was struck down by the state High Court at the time. (Subsequent TN actions evolved later, but those details weren’t the focus of the provided articles.)
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Karnataka (2021): Proposed a ban extending to games requiring an entry fee; this approach also faced legal headwinds.
These state-level moves created a fragmented map for RMG. The 2025 central Bill aims to settle that by imposing a single India-wide prohibition on money-gaming, together with ad and payments blocks.
Penalties & Enforcement: What Howzat (and users) should expect
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Operators & facilitators (e.g., running contests for stakes) face jail and fines in the ranges noted above.
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Advertisers/endorsements (including celebrity promoters) can also be penalized.
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Financial blocks (banks, UPI, cards) will cut off deposits/withdrawals tied to money games.
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Platforms may face closure orders in severe cases, per some coverage.
For users, the most immediate effect will be inability to deposit/withdraw and no access to money-based contests once the law is notified.
The Bigger Picture: Why the Government Did This
From the material you provided, three themes recur:
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Public health & consumer protection: Addiction, loss of life savings, psychological harm—especially among youth and vulnerable groups.
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Security & financial integrity: Allegations that some money-gaming ecosystems enable money laundering, tax evasion, and in some cases are cited alongside terror-financing concerns.
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Promote non-RMG segments: E-sports and social/casual games are encouraged, with plans for a regulatory authority, infrastructure, and clearer legitimacy (even tied to India’s esports ambitions).
What Remains Legal vs Illegal (post-Bill)
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Legal / Encouraged:
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E-sports tournaments/leagues (e.g., competitive titles without monetary wagering by players).
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Casual/Social games without deposits-for-reward mechanics.
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Educational games.
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Illegal / Prohibited (Howzat falls here):
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Fantasy sports for stakes (e.g., Howzat contests with entry fees and prize pools).
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Rummy/Poker for money, online betting, any deposit-to-win format.
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Advertising and payments for money-gaming.
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Impact Beyond Howzat (context from your articles)
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Fantasy: Dream11, MPL, My11Circle, Howzat, SG11 Fantasy.
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Cards/Poker: RummyCircle (Games24x7), Junglee, PokerBaazi, GamesKraft/“RummyCulture”, Adda52.
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Hybrids: WinZO (where it offers money-games).
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Listed exposure: Nazara Technologies (investor in PokerBaazi’s parent) saw a double-digit stock drop in immediate trading reactions discussed in the pieces you shared.
Industry voices (STAN, NODWIN, S8UL) broadly welcome esports recognition but warn about terminology clarity and anticipate revenue disruption and business model pivots for the RMG sector.
FAQ
Q1. Is Howzat banned in my state right now?
If/when the central Act is notified, the prohibition will be nationwide, not state-specific. Until notification, many operators have already paused or prepared to pause money-gaming due to the bill’s clear intent and banking/ads restrictions.
Q2. Can Howzat run free-to-play?
Yes, free-to-play (no deposits, no monetary rewards) and esports-style contests do not fall under “online money games.” Many RMG platforms may pivot to such formats—but monetization and engagement will change dramatically.
Q3. What if my state earlier allowed fantasy sports as “skill”?
The central law overrides with a ban on online money games regardless of the “skill” vs “chance” debate—because the prohibition is tied to monetary stakes/rewards, not the skill classification.
Q4. What about sponsorships and ads in sports (e.g., cricket)?
Ads and endorsements for money-gaming are prohibited under the Bill, so expect sponsorship churn and replacement by non-RMG brands.
Bottom Line
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Before 2025: A patchwork of state actions (AP bans; TN/Karnataka attempts; others contested).
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After the Online Gaming Bill (2025): Uniform national ban on Howzat’s real-money contests once the Act is notified—effectively every state in India.
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Path forward: If Howzat continues in India, it will likely be via free-to-play, esports, or social gaming formats without deposits-for-reward mechanics.
source: Online Gaming Bill 2025 passed
