<h1>New national law bans real-money online gaming while exempting e-sports and social games, forcing platform suspensions</h1> Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, imposing a blanket ban on real-money online games while preserving e-sports and social games, prompting major gaming platforms to suspend cash-based offerings and halt new deposits; several operators stated user balances remain withdrawable pending regulatory clarity. The law creates strict liabilities and penalties for operators, advertisers and financial intermediaries tied to prohibited games. Industry groups warned the prohibition risks significant revenue loss, compliance burdens for startups, and potential chilling of innovation in skill-based monetised platforms, and have sought government engagement on transitional measures and withdrawal mechanisms.