Indian state Haryana bans gambling, except for “games of skill”
The Indian state of Haryana has banned gambling, except for “games of skill”.
What the law is about
On May 21, 2025, Haryana enacted the “Public Gambling Prevention Act”. It was passed during the budget session and aims to combat gambling, including betting on sports and elections, match-fixing, and wagering on outcomes.
The law bans “games of chance” but makes an exception for “games of skill”. However, the law does not clearly define what constitutes a game of skill, leading to legal uncertainty.
What is considered a bet
A bet is now defined as any agreement—oral, written, or otherwise—between parties on the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event with an uncertain outcome, where an incorrect prediction results in the loss or payment of a monetary or non-monetary stake.
Penalties
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Match-fixing / Spot-fixing | 3–5 years in prison and a fine of at least ₹5 lakh |
| Repeat offense | Up to 7 years in prison |
Expert opinions
Sonam Chandwani, managing partner at KS Legal & Associates, said the law delivers a serious blow to startups involved in opinion trading and fantasy games. The vague language, she noted, threatens the future of startups in Gurgaon and other Haryana tech parks.
Ketan Mukhija, senior partner at Burgeon Law, called the law regressive and accused it of equating opinion trading and fantasy sports with gambling, despite their skill-based elements.
Shoubik Dasgupta from Pioneer Legal believes opinion trading is a “game of chance” since it involves betting on binary outcomes (yes/no).
What’s happening with platforms
- MPL Opinio suspended operations in Haryana even before the law officially took effect.
- Probo continues to operate, claiming the platform is still functional in Haryana.
- SportsBaazi — a former fantasy sports platform — also engages in opinion trading.
Legal issues and courts
The law has triggered a wave of legal disputes:
- The Punjab and Haryana High Court received a public interest litigation against opinion trading.
- In 2022, Mumbai police registered a case against Probo under Maharashtra’s Gambling Prevention Act.
- In May 2025, the Chhattisgarh High Court ordered geo-blocking of Probo and SportsBaazi in the state.
- SEBI (India’s financial regulator) stated that it does not regulate such apps, unlike the SEC in the U.S.
What’s next?
Experts believe platforms can continue operating in Haryana only if they receive official exemptions for games recognized as skill-based.
This will require registration with government authorities and compliance with local laws.
Growth despite bans
Despite the uncertainty, the opinion trading industry continues to grow. More than 50 million users are engaged, annual transactions reach ₹50,000 crore, and projected revenue for 2025 is ₹1,000 crore.
Major investments in platforms:
- Probo — $28 million from Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital, and Fundamentum Partnership.
- TradeX — investment from Y Combinator.
However, without clear regulations, the sector risks losing investor confidence and may face a mass exodus of companies from the region.