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Key Points

Major gaming platforms WinZO and PokerBaazi have suspended their real money gaming operations following the new legislation. WinZO announced it will withdraw impacted offerings starting August 22nd while emphasizing their commitment to legal compliance. PokerBaazi made an immediate halt to all real money games, expressing heavy hearts about the decision. This follows similar shutdowns by Dream11 and My11Circle earlier this week, signaling a massive industry shift.

Key Points: WinZO and PokerBaazi Halt Real Money Gaming After New Bill

  • WinZO withdraws impacted real money offerings effective August 22, 2025
  • PokerBaazi pauses all real money gaming operations immediately
  • Both companies cite compliance with new Online Gaming Bill as reason
  • Industry giants Dream11 and My11Circle had already halted services earlier
2 min read

WinZO withdraws real money games, PokerBaazi halts operations after new Online Gaming Bill

India's top gaming platforms WinZO and PokerBaazi suspend real money operations immediately to comply with the new Online Gaming Bill 2025, following industry-wide shutdowns.

"With a very heavy heart, we announce that PokerBaazi will be pausing its operations - PokerBaazi Statement"

New Delhi, Aug 22

WinZO, India’s largest social gaming and interactive entertainment platform, on Friday announced that it will withdraw its impacted offerings from August 22, following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

The company said it remains committed to complying with the law of the land while continuing to fuel India’s digital journey.

Launched in 2018, WinZO has grown into a community of over 250 million users engaging with more than 100 games in 15 languages, developed by third-party creators from across the globe.

The company said it has always upheld the highest standards of integrity, ensuring user safety and national security.

It added that every feature on the platform was driven by responsibility and innovation rather than the pursuit of monetisation.

The firm also expressed gratitude to its team, investors, and partners for standing by it through challenges such as the pandemic, taxation shocks, and regulatory changes.

“In compliance with the new law, we are responsibly withdrawing impacted offerings w.e.f 22nd August 2025,” the company said.

Meanwhile, PokerBaazi also announced that it has paused all real money online gaming operations with immediate effect.

“With a very heavy heart, we announce that PokerBaazi will be pausing its operations in compliance with The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. Effective immediately, no real money games will be offered on our platform,” the company said in a statement.

PokerBaazi added that it will evaluate the future course of action once the Bill is fully enacted.

The fresh announcements come after industry majors like Dream11 and My11Circle had already stopped offering real money games earlier this week -- underscoring the wide impact of the new legislation on India’s booming online gaming sector.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
So many jobs will be lost because of this decision. My cousin worked at one of these gaming companies and now he's worried about his future. The government should have found a middle path instead of banning everything.
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Arjun K
I used to play on WinZO occasionally for fun. It's sad to see it go but understandable. The platform was actually quite well-managed with good security measures. Hope they can come back with something that complies with the new rules.
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Sarah B
As someone who lost money on these platforms, I welcome this regulation. There should be proper oversight for anything involving real money transactions. Safety of users should be the priority.
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Vikram M
The timing is terrible for the industry. First GST hike now this ban. So many startups will suffer. Government should support digital innovation instead of killing it. 😔
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Michael C
While regulation is necessary, complete shutdown seems extreme. Other countries have found ways to regulate online gaming without banning it entirely. India could learn from their models.
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Ananya R
Good decision! Too many college students were wasting their time and parents' money on these apps. Education and career should be the focus, not gambling disguised as gaming.

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