Online Gaming Law in India, State by State (2026 Guide)
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TL;DR
India's Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 prohibits offering and advertising online money games across the country, while some states also have their own restrictions. Rules and enforcement can change. This page is a general explainer, not legal advice, and every state-specific point here still needs a lawyer's review.
Online gaming law in India now works on two levels: a central Act passed in 2025 that applies nationwide, and older state laws that still matter in some places. Come Cricket readers should check both levels for their own state before using any gaming app. This page explains the general picture and how to check.
Important: this article is general information written by a guide site, not by lawyers. It is not legal advice. Laws, rules and enforcement practice can change, and court decisions can alter how a law is applied. Check official sources or consult a qualified lawyer about your own situation.
What does the 2025 central Act say in broad terms?
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 is a central law that, in broad terms, prohibits offering and advertising online money games in India, including paid fantasy contests. The same Act sets out to recognise and encourage e-sports and online social games that do not involve staking money.
In general terms, the Act separates online games into broad groups:
- Online money games, where a person pays a fee or deposits money in the expectation of a monetary or similar return. Offering these games, advertising them and facilitating payments for them are prohibited.
- E-sports, meaning organised competitive gaming, which the Act aims to recognise and promote.
- Online social and educational games, played for recreation or learning without money stakes, which the Act also aims to support.
One widely reported feature is that the prohibition on online money games does not depend on whether a game is described as a game of skill or a game of chance. That is a change from earlier debates, where the skill-versus-chance question was central.
The Act also provides for a central authority and for rules to be made under it. Details such as registration, classification of games and enforcement procedures depend on those rules and on later notifications, which can be updated. This page does not quote section numbers or penalties, because those details should be read from the official text. The Ministry of Electronics and IT is the official source for the Act and related notifications.
Why do state laws still matter after a central Act?
State laws still matter after the central Act because gambling has traditionally been regulated by the states in India, and several states passed their own laws on online games before 2025. Those state laws have not simply disappeared. How each one interacts with the central Act is a legal question for a qualified lawyer.
The result is a layered position. A reader has to consider the central Act first and then ask whether the home state adds any restriction of its own. Where a state law and the central Act appear to overlap or differ, only a lawyer or a court can say which applies and how.
Which states are commonly cited as restricting online games?
The states commonly cited as restricting online games played for stakes are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Odisha, Nagaland and Sikkim. Many apps and websites have listed these six states in their terms as places where certain games are unavailable. The exact legal position in each state needs a lawyer's review.
A few cautions about this list:
- The list reflects how these states are commonly described, not a confirmed legal finding for each one.
- Other states have passed, amended or debated their own laws at different times, and courts have upheld or struck down parts of them. A state missing from the list is not automatically unrestricted.
- Since the 2025 central Act applies across India, the state list is no longer the whole question for online money games.
What is the status of online gaming law in each state?
The status of online gaming law in each Indian state has not been legally verified for this guide, so the table below gives only a cautious general note for each entry. Every state-specific cell is marked for lawyer review. Do not treat any row as a confirmed statement of the law.
| State or region | Status | Cautious general note |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Confirm with official sources | Commonly cited as a state that restricts online games played for stakes. Confirm the current position from official state sources. |
| Telangana | Confirm with official sources | Commonly cited as a state that restricts online games played for stakes. Confirm the current position from official state sources. |
| Assam | Confirm with official sources | Commonly cited as a restricted state in app terms and conditions. The reach of state law to online games needs confirmation. |
| Odisha | Confirm with official sources | Commonly cited as a restricted state in app terms and conditions. The reach of state law to online games needs confirmation. |
| Nagaland | Confirm with official sources | Commonly cited as having state rules of its own for online games. How those rules sit beside the central Act needs confirmation. |
| Sikkim | Confirm with official sources | Commonly cited as having state rules of its own for online games. How those rules sit beside the central Act needs confirmation. |
| Other states | Confirm with official sources | The central Act applies nationwide. Some states have also passed or proposed their own laws. Check your own state individually. |
| Union territories | Confirm with official sources | The central Act applies nationwide. Local rules may also apply. Check official sources for your territory. |
How can you check your own position?
You can check your own position by reading official sources in a fixed order: the central Act and its rules, then your state government's law and notifications, then the terms of the specific app. If anything remains unclear after those three steps, the safe choice is to consult a lawyer before using the app.
- Read the central position. Look for the Act, its rules and any press notes on the Ministry of Electronics and IT website. Check the date of each document, because later notifications can change earlier ones.
- Check your state. Look at your state government's official website or gazette for any law or notification on online games. Use the state where you live and the state where you are physically present, if they differ.
- Identify what the app actually does. Ask whether the app takes any payment, entry fee or deposit linked to a possible return. That question is central to how the 2025 Act classifies a game.
- Read the app's own terms. Terms usually state which regions are excluded and the minimum age. An app with no terms at all is a warning sign.
- Check your age. Gaming apps of this kind are for adults aged 18 and over.
- Ask a professional if in doubt. A short consultation with a lawyer in your state is the only way to get advice that applies to you.
Do not use a VPN or a false location to get around a regional restriction. Doing so does not change the law that applies to you.
What does this mean for Come Cricket and similar apps?
For Come Cricket and similar apps, the central question is whether the app offers anything that counts as an online money game under the 2025 Act. This guide site is independent and cannot confirm the app's current features or how the law applies to them, so readers must check for themselves.
What the app currently offers, including whether any contest involves payment, is not confirmed here. Whether those features are lawful in a particular state is a separate question.
A few related points are worth separating from the legal question:
- Distribution is a different issue. The app is shared as an APK outside Google Play. Installing an APK is a safety decision, covered in our guide on whether the Come Cricket APK is safe. Being available to download says nothing about legal status.
- This site's role is limited. Our disclaimer explains that this is an informational guide with no affiliation to the developer, any board or any store.
If you are unsure about your position, the cautious course is not to install or use a gaming app until you have checked. Our responsible gaming page has further guidance for adult readers.
Frequently asked questions
Is this article legal advice?
No. This article is a general explainer written for readers of an independent guide site. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest rules or court decisions. Consult official sources or a qualified lawyer in your state about your own situation.
Does the 2025 Act apply in every Indian state?
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 is a central law and is described as applying across India. Some states also have their own laws on games played for stakes. How the two levels interact in a particular state needs a lawyer's review.
Are fantasy cricket apps banned in India?
In general terms, the 2025 Act prohibits offering and advertising online money games, and paid fantasy contests are widely understood to fall within that category. Free-to-play formats are treated differently. The exact position depends on the Act, its rules and how a specific app works.
Which states are usually listed as restricted?
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Odisha, Nagaland and Sikkim are the states most commonly cited as restricting online games played for stakes. This list is a common description, not a verified legal finding, and other states may also have their own rules.
Where can I read the official rules?
Start with the Ministry of Electronics and IT website for the central Act, rules and notifications. Then check your state government's official website or gazette. Always look at the date of a document, since newer notifications can replace older ones.
Need the app or a hand?
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