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An online poker operator in India has begun the first legal challenge to the government’s recent ban on real-money games.
The new legislation, passed on Aug. 20, has already either driven out real-money operators or compelled them to offer only free-to-play products. That effectively costs them nearly all of their revenue.
A23 is one such operator, and it has stepped up as the first to challenge the ban.
Although gambling was already highly restricted in India, the government crackdown targeted real-money poker and fantasy sports. Those industries had previously operated legally as games of skill.
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A23’s Legal Challenge
A23 offers both rummy and poker games, both of which received “games of skill” designations from Indian courts.
In a filing at the High Court of Karnataka – based in Southwestern India – A23 said that the law “criminalizes the legitimate business of playing online games of skill, which would result in the closure of various gaming companies overnight,” Reuters reported.
A23 called the law a “product of state paternalism” and asked it be declared unconstitutional.
In passing the law, the prime minister maintained that “the harmful effects of online money games” compel the government to step in and protect its citizens.
India Loses Major Poker, Fantasy Operators Following Ban
Poker and fantasy sports operators quickly either exited the country or shelved their real-money offerings following the bill’s passage.
Fantasy sports giants Dream11 and Mobile Premier League (MPL) suspended all real-money games across various genres on their websites. They have yet to offer any legal challenge to the legislation.
Industry sources estimate India had 11.2 million active online poker users, an increase of 19% from 2024. Name brands such as PokerStars the World Poker Tour have invested in the game’s growth in the country recently.
PokerStars’ parent company, Flutter, has already pulled its Junglee Poker product from the market.
At the time of writing, A23 still offers free rummy on their website. However, their poker page displays a shutdown notice.
Another popular brand, PokerBaazi, has also exited.
The future of poker, and online real-money games at large, remains uncertain in India. Even the fantasy sports companies that have declined to pursue a legal challenge will be watching the results of A23’s case closely.
Image credit: Nick Youngson/Pix4free (license)
