MPL bans all money-based games: Mobile Premier League (MPL), India’s leading online gaming platform, has announced a ban on all money-based games on its platform after the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill, 2025 was passed in Parliament. The move marks a turning point for India’s online gaming industry, which has seen rapid growth in recent years.
MPL Bans Money Games Across India
In an official statement, MPL confirmed that all real-money gaming options have been discontinued with immediate effect.
According to a Reuters report, the company said, “We are suspending all money gaming offers on the MPL platform in India.”
The announcement comes hours after the Rajya Sabha approved the Online Gaming Bill, 2025 amid intense uproar from the opposition.
Dream11 and Zoopee follow in MPL’s footsteps
MPL is not the only gaming giant to be affected. Dream11’s parent company Dream Sports also informed its employees about shutting down paid gaming operations during an internal meeting on August 20. The company will now focus on global expansion and strengthen its investments in Willow TV and Cricbuzz.
Similarly, Zoopee announced that it will shut down its paid gaming formats, but assured users that free games like Ludo Supreme, Ludo Turbo, Snakes & Ladders and Trump Card Mania will remain available.
A Zoopee spokesperson said, “We are committed to providing engaging and responsible gaming experiences to our 150 million users across India, but only through a free-to-play model.”
What is the Online Gaming Bill 2025?
The Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill, 2025, passed by both Houses of Parliament, divides the industry into three segments:
- E-sports – will be promoted and developed as a global industry.
- Online social gaming – will be encouraged as a form of digital entertainment.
- Online money gaming – banned due to its negative impact.
Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that online money gaming has become a public health risk, with cases of addiction, financial ruin and mental health problems on the rise.
Vaishnaw said, “It is estimated that more than 45 crore Indians have been affected and more than ₹20,000 crore has been lost due to money-based online gaming.”
“The World Health Organisation has also declared it as gaming disorder.”
PM Modi Welcomes the Bill
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the bill, calling it a step towards making India a global gaming hub.
“This Bill reflects our commitment to innovation, creativity and responsible gaming. It will encourage e-sports and online social games, while protecting citizens from the harmful effects of online money gaming,” PM Modi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Impact on India’s online gaming industry
The ban on real money games by major platforms such as MPL, Dream11 and Zoopee has caused a stir in the gaming ecosystem. Experts believe that although short-term disruptions are inevitable, this Bill will move the industry towards e-sports and casual gaming, opening up new opportunities for global investment and player engagement.
For gamers, this means a shift away from cash-based models to free-to-play experiences that focus on entertainment, skill and healthy competition.