Skip to content 
Playing Teen Patti with family and friends, or online with free chips that can’t be cashed out, is legal. Playing Teen Patti online for real money is not: since 1 May 2026, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans offering, advertising and facilitating payments for all online money games across India, whether they involve skill, chance or both. Challenges to the Act are pending before the Supreme Court. This page is general information, not legal advice.
What does the Online Gaming Act ban?
It prohibits online money games — any online game where you pay or stake money expecting to win money or something convertible into money. The official PIB explainer describes it as a complete ban covering games of chance, games of skill and any mix of the two. The Act’s text on India Code sets out three key prohibitions:
| Section | What it bars |
|---|---|
| Section 5 | Offering, aiding or abetting online money games |
| Section 6 | Advertising or promoting them, or inducing people to play |
| Section 7 | Banks and payment systems facilitating payments for them |
The Act and the accompanying Rules came into force on 1 May 2026, and the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) began operating the same day.
What are the penalties?
Offering online money games or facilitating their payments can attract imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to ₹1 crore, or both, according to the government’s press release. The penalties target operators, promoters and payment facilitators rather than individual players — but players lose any protection for money they deposit.
What is still legal?
- Teen Patti, rummy and other card games at home, offline.
- Free-to-play online games where chips can’t be cashed out.
- Recognised e-sports and online social games.
How is the ban being enforced?
In a July 2026 advisory, OGAI told app stores, banks, telecoms, social platforms and ad agencies to disable money games, block payments and pull ads, as Gambling.com reported, with site blocks nearing 8,400. Major rummy and card operators had already switched off cash games in August 2025.
Is the law final?
The Supreme Court has agreed to give a final hearing to petitions challenging the Act, as The Economic Times reported. Until a court rules otherwise, the ban applies.
What if you have money stuck in an app?
The draft rules once proposed a 180-day refund window; the final Rules dropped it, leaving balances in a grey zone, as legal analysts at IndusLaw note. Practical steps:
- Stop depositing.
- Request withdrawal and keep screenshots, UTRs and bank statements.
- Never pay “release” or “tax” fees.
- Escalate: platform grievance officer, your bank in writing, then the consumer forum; report fraud on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to play Teen Patti at home?
No. Offline home games are not covered by the online money gaming ban.
Will I be arrested for playing on an app?
The Act’s penalties focus on operators, advertisers and payment facilitators. That doesn’t make real-money apps safe or lawful to use. We don’t give legal advice.
Is online rummy for money legal now?
No. The Act bans online money games regardless of skill, which includes cash rummy. See rummy real money.
Are free Teen Patti apps legal?
Yes, when chips can’t be converted to money.
Is the Act being challenged?
Yes — the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the petitions.
Are YONO apps legal?
Real-money YONO-style apps fall under the same ban. See YONO real or fake and the teen patti master guide.
Key takeaways
- Online money games are banned nationwide since 1 May 2026.
- Offering, advertising and processing payments are offences.
- Home games and free-chip apps stay legal.
- A Supreme Court challenge is pending.
