Legal status tracker

Online Rummy in India: Current Legal Status

Last reviewed 2026-08-16

The law

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA) was passed on 2025-08-21 and came into force on 2025-10-01.

All online games where money or money's worth is staked, regardless of whether the game is one of skill or chance. Section 18 gives the central Act overriding effect over inconsistent state provisions.

Esports and social or casual games where nothing is staked are expressly promoted rather than banned.

Timeline

1. 2025-08-21 — PROGA passed by Parliament
2. 2025-10-01 — Act comes into force; real-money rummy, poker and fantasy sports become prohibited nationwide
3. 2026-05-01 — Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 fully enforceable

Penalties

State by state

Before PROGA, states set their own rules and a few licensed online skill gaming. Those frameworks no longer decide the question — the central Act applies everywhere. The column below records the position each state held before the central ban, which is useful context but is no longer the operative law.

Where the major apps stand

Common questions

Is online rummy banned in India?

Real-money online rummy is banned across India under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which came into force on 1 October 2025. Rummy played for free, with no stake, is not banned.

Does the ban depend on which state I live in?

No. PROGA is a central law and Section 18 gives it overriding effect over inconsistent state provisions. States that previously licensed online skill gaming, such as Nagaland and Sikkim, can no longer permit money play.

Rummy is a game of skill. Does that not protect it?

Not any more. The position confirmed alongside the Act is that once money is staked, the distinction between skill and chance stops shielding the activity from prohibition.

What happened to the money in my rummy account?

Operators enabled wallet withdrawals when they discontinued cash play. If you still hold a balance, open the app and use its withdrawal flow, and contact the operator's support if the balance is not released. Complete KYC first, since withdrawals are normally blocked until documents are approved.

Can I still play rummy legally in India?

Yes, if no money is staked. The Act expressly promotes esports and social or casual games. Free rummy apps and offline rummy are unaffected.

What are the penalties?

Offering or facilitating an online money game carries up to three years imprisonment and a fine up to ₹1 crore. Advertising one carries up to two years. These are cognisable and non-bailable offences.