Online Gaming Bill Update:- The Government of India has recently implemented the ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025’. Under this law, online games that involve real money and their advertisements have been completely banned. The most significant impact of this decision has been on India’s advertising industry, where an estimated annual loss of about ₹10,000 crore is anticipated.
Big drop in advertising expenditure
According to a report by Dentsu, India’s total advertising budget is expected to reach around ₹1.3 lakh crore this year. However, after this ban, advertising expenditure is expected to decrease by approximately 7.5%. The prohibition on advertisements for real-money games has directly affected sports advertising, social media promotion, and digital marketing.
Direct impact on companies and the sports industry
Big gaming companies like Dream11, MPL and PokerBaazi have stopped their real-money games. Along with this, organisations dependent on sponsorship and advertising in sports are also facing huge losses. This is a significant setback for the Cricket Board (BCCI) and other sports associations, as gaming companies were among their major sponsors.
The government will also suffer a loss in tax revenue
Gaming industry associations have appealed to the government to reconsider this ban. They say that this decision will not only affect the industry but also cause the government to lose approximately ₹20,000 crore in tax revenue.
What is the way for the future?
Many advertising campaigns have been halted, and companies are awaiting further guidelines from the government. If the government gives partial relaxation with some conditions, then the industry can get back on track. However, in the event of a complete ban, the fields of digital advertising and sports sponsorship will need to find new options.