Online Gaming Bill 2025: WinZO withdraws money-based games after Presidential assent - 'The best is yet to come'

One of India’s largest social gaming and interactive entertainment platforms, WinZO, has announced that it will withdraw all games impacted by the newly passed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The company confirmed the move in a detailed statement, following the legislation receiving President Droupadi Murmu’s assent on Friday.

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“In compliance with the new law, we are responsibly withdrawing impacted offerings w.e.f. 22nd August 2025,” WinZO said in its statement.


The landmark legislation prohibits all forms of money-based online gaming while formally recognising and supporting e-sports and online social games. Offenders could face imprisonment of up to three years and fines of up to Rs 1 crore, with repeat violations attracting harsher penalties of up to five years in jail and fines of up to Rs 2 crore. Crucially, while service providers, advertisers, and promoters face strict action, individual players will not be penalised.


Calling the passage of the bill a “defining juncture” for India’s gaming industry, WinZO reiterated its commitment to comply fully with the law while continuing to innovate for the future.

“As a nation, an industry, and as entrepreneurs, we now stand at a defining juncture. The choices we make today will shape how government and industry collaborate, how young entrepreneurs dream, and how global investors continue to believe in Indian innovation,” the statement read.

Founded in 2018, WinZO has grown into a platform with over 250 million users engaging with 100+ games in 15 languages. The company has also been a strong backer of indigenous sports, sponsoring Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and multiple franchises in the Pro Kabaddi League.

WinZO also highlighted its role in supporting developers, creators, and investors, stating: “We are proud to have always upheld the highest standards of integrity, ensuring user safety and national security with zero tolerance for aberrations. Every feature we built was driven not by the pursuit of monetisation, but by our ethos of responsibility, innovation, and nation-building.”

The company thanked its partners, investors, and 250 million users for their continued support, signing off its message with a rallying note: “The best is yet to come. Jai Hind!”

WinZO’s decision follows similar announcements by other major gaming firms. Fantasy sports giant Dream11 confirmed it has discontinued all paid contests and will now operate solely as a free-to-play platform, while Games24x7 suspended real-money operations on My11Circle.

The coming months are expected to redefine the landscape of India’s booming online gaming sector, with e-sports and social games at the centre of the new regulatory framework.

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