Online gaming in India: status after 1 May 2026

This page is a content-classification note, not legal advice. It explains why this site does not publish download or bonus pages for cash rummy apps.

What changed

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 were notified on 22 April 2026 and also took effect on 1 May 2026. The Act prohibits online money games and restricts their promotion.

What counts as an online money game

The Authority considers whether a game involves a fee, deposit or stake; whether users expect a monetary return; the revenue model; and whether rewards can be transferred, redeemed or monetised outside the game. The old skill-versus-chance distinction is not a safe harbour for a cash rummy product.

What this means for this site

• We do not publish a download button on a record that shows cash-play features.
• We do not write bonus amounts, payout times or “instant withdrawal” claims.
• We do not use a state-by-state “legal list” to imply that other states are open. The Act applies nationally; a state list is not a compliance mechanism.
• We document the legal status, the operator record and the user risk instead.

Sources

• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 (notified 22 April 2026; effective 1 May 2026).
• AZB & Partners, “New Rules of the Game: India’s Online Gaming Regulatory Framework Takes Effect”, 8 May 2026.

If you are an operator or an investor, take independent legal advice. This page is an editorial summary with a date, not a legal opinion.