India’s Online Money-Games Ban is being challenged in the Supreme Court. Here’s what the ruling could mean for players and operators in 2026.
It has not been the greatest end to 2025 for Indians who enjoy online gambling, and it’s been an even worse time for the local operators that used to serve them. If you’ve been following our stories on the matter, India has taken its toughest stance on real money online gaming yet, by passing a bill that makes it all illegal.
The move has already sparked legal pushback, with petitions now headed to the Supreme Court. As the case unfolds, players are left wondering what gambling in India will realistically look like in 2026, and, to be frank, at least in the short term, it’s not looking great.
A legal battle over the future of online gaming
The real story is not just the ban itself, but the legal challenges that will determine whether it will stand throughout 2026. India’s new online gaming law that bans money-based online games has been challenged in court, with the Supreme Court preparing to hear multiple petitions against the Online Gaming Act, according to court reporting by Live Law.
So, while the ban currently stands, there could be hope for Indian casinos, sports betting sites, and of course, players in 2026. However, the Indian court system is notoriously slow, so if changes were made, it’s hard to predict when that could happen.
Sources: We used Live Law court reporting for all information regarding the legal challenges being made against the new online gambling legislation. in addition, we used the Indian government’s official website for information pertaining to the current laws.
Why this matters to players
In short, it matters because the new legislation has placed a blanket ban on all forms of online real-money gambling, even on previously allowed skill games. Before the Act, online platforms were allowed to offer skill games, including poker, various card games and fantasy sports, all games that courts previously ruled as perfectly fine as results were not purely based on chance.
However, that distinction no longer exists by law. If money is passed or financial profit is made from wagers, it is classed as illegal and these operators will face criminal proceedings. At this point, we should make it clear that Indian individuals betting online face no such repercussions themselves; they can still use offshore sites for gambling purposes.
It is the local operators and online platforms that previously were able to run their businesses that have now been destroyed. In fact, the country’s gambling industry as a whole has been devastated due to the new rulings.
The restrictions also go much further than just requiring operators to shut down their services. The law also means:
- Advertising, promoting, or endorsing online money games is also illegal.
- Authorities will now use existing IT laws to block access to all forms of online gaming platforms.
- Financial services and payment processors are required to restrict or block transactions to these sites.
- There are strict penalties (fines, imprisonment, penalties) for business owners found guilty of flouting the new laws.
In short, companies that were already paying a harsh 28% Gambling Services Tax rate and abiding by restrictive laws have now faced a complete U-turn by the government that removes their ability to function at all.
What’s happening in court
Well, understandably, the industry has not taken the legislation changes lying down. The talking point right now is the many challenges petitioned to the Supreme Court that are questioning the constitutionality of the Act. The good news is that the court will now listen to those arguments, which will focus on issues such as proportionality, freedom of trade and whether an outright ban is justified versus regulation.
However, while these challenges offer some hope, the Indian government is known for its stubbornness. It rarely goes back on decisions through a fear of losing face. The court system is also long-winded, so even a decision to reverse current laws or make positive changes, this is not something we’d expect to see for some time, and certainly not in the early part of 2026.
What players are likely to face in 2026 – Casinoplusbonus Opinion
Unfortunately, Indian players are left with little room to manoeuvre heading into 2026. There are two realistic options. The first is to attempt to sit it out and wait for the outcome of the legal challenges, and essentially stick to the free-to-play skill games and chance-based titles that are legal. However, as no money can change hands, that means there’s no real monetary upside to doing that.
As for those of you who want that adrenaline rush that comes with placing real money bets, there’s just one option. That is to follow what many others have been doing (especially since the new legislation came into force) by turning to offshore gambling sites and online casinos that accept Indian users.
The good news is that these sites typically support INR and crypto bets and offer exciting bonuses and promotions you can use to boost your deposits. As for the bad, the trade-off is that you may not get the same level of player protection as you would playing at a locally regulated site in India. Having said that, if you stick to sites we’ve reviewed and recommended, you should get the safe and reliable experience you’re seeking.
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