The online money gaming ban has shut down popular apps such as Dream11, WinZO, and Probo. The online money gaming ban has shut down popular apps such as Dream11, WinZO, and Probo.
Ban on online money gaming
The online gaming revolution in India and its end The online real money gaming industry has seen unprecedented growth over the last decade thanks to cheap internet and smartphones in India. Also, after the entry of Jio in the year 2016, mobile internet became revolutionary cheap, which gave a boost to Digital India and the number of users of online gaming platforms increased drastically. Digital payment systems like UPI made transactions on these platforms easy but the COVID-19 lockdown pushed millions of users towards these games for entertainment. Also, during this period, platforms like Dream11 Games24x7 Winzo GamesKraft and Probo attracted huge investments and rapidly became unicorn startups. Between 2018 and 2021, the online gaming sector received foreign investment of more than $700 million.
The rise and fall of Probo: A case study online money gaming ban
But with this rapid growth came serious social concerns. Incidents like addiction, huge financial losses, mental health crisis and even suicide have come to the fore due to online money games. According to the central government, an estimated 45 crore people have been negatively affected by online money games and have suffered losses of more than Rs 20,000 crore. Also, in view of these concerns, the Government of India passed the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill 2025 on 21 August 2025 which imposed a complete ban on all types of online real money games in the country and this landmark law has changed India’s online gaming landscape forever.
Due to which all major RMG platforms including Dream11 Games24x7 and Probo had to shut down their money-based operations. In this article, we will know in detail how Probo has asked its users to withdraw their remaining balance, the steps involved in this process, the key provisions of the new law and its impact on the future of the Indian online gaming industry.
The rise and business model of Probo
Probo Media Technologies Pvt Ltd was founded in 2019 by Ashish Garg and Sachin Subhashchandra Gupta. Probo Media Technologies, Ltd. launched the Probo app and website that served as an opinion trading platform. The platform allowed users to place real money bets in real-time on various topics such as sports, current affairs, economics, entertainment and more. The company claimed that its games demand knowledge and skills. And it received backing from prominent investors such as Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia Capital, Elevation Capital, and Fundamentum Partnership. Probo Media Technologies reported revenues of $57.3 million (approximately Rs 490 crore) in FY24 and employed 88 people as of May 2025. The company had raised $24 million in three funding rounds so far.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation and action
In July 2025, the Enforcement Directorate raided four premises linked to Probo in Gurugram and other parts of Haryana. Authorities based their action on multiple FIRs registered in Gurugram, Palwal, Haryana, and Agra, Uttar Pradesh, where the complainants alleged that fraudsters had defrauded them by promising easy money through simple yes or no questions. ED investigation found that the Probo app and website initially misled users by promoting a legitimate skill-based platform but in reality it was a betting mechanism where success was entirely dependent on chance and not on the abilities or insights of the user.
ED also found that the app/website did not have any mechanism to prevent minors from registering, lacked proper due diligence (KYC) and lured new users through misleading advertisements. During the investigation, ED has frozen fixed deposits and shares worth Rs 284.50 crore and sealed the contents of three bank lockers. Impact of the new online gaming law After the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill 2025 was passed by Parliament in August 2025, all RMG platforms including Probo were forced to shut down their money-based operations.
impact on Enforcement Directorate (ED) online money gaming ban
The law imposed a complete ban on all online money games based on chance, skill or a combination of both and also applies to offshore RMG companies whose services are accessible in India. Also, the penalties for violation of this law are severe. Imprisonment up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore and for repeat offences, imprisonment up to five years and a fine of up to Rs 2 crore. There is also a ban on advertisements. Violation of which can lead to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. Also, step-by-step guide to withdraw balance from Probo After shutting down its operations under the new law, Probo has requested its users to withdraw their remaining balance. Here is a detailed guide on how users can withdraw their balance.
The logic behind the law of online money gaming ban
The government has given several reasons for bringing this law. Along with addiction and financial loss, online money games encourage compulsive playing, due to which many players lose their entire savings. Along with this, mental health and suicide as the stress of huge financial losses has led to cases of depression and even suicide. And fraud and money laundering are taking place on many platforms.Gambling and betting are already restricted under Indian laws. But the online domain remained largely unregulated.
Industry response and economic impact
The online gaming industry has strongly opposed a ban on real money games. The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah suggesting that the industry should be regulated rather than banned, which the AIGF warned could hurt millions of players and push them to unsafe and illegal gaming sites. As per industry estimates, the real-money gaming sector makes an annual contribution of about Rs 20,000 crore in direct and indirect taxes and supports nearly 2,00,000 direct and indirect jobs across over 400 companies. Experts have warned that the ban could lead to widespread job losses and the closure of numerous firms. In response to the ban, all major RMG platforms, including Dream11 Games24x7, WinZO GamesKraft MPL and Probo, have suspended or permanently shut their real-money operations. Some companies are pivoting to free-to-play online social games while others are exploring new business models.
Final Thoughts
The ban on online real money games in India is a significant milestone, reflecting the government’s efforts to strike a balance between digital innovation and social protection. While the decision will lead to economic disruption and job losses, it is also a crucial step towards protecting society from the harmful effects of predatory gaming practices. The current priority for platforms like Probo is to ensure safety and seamless withdrawal of users’ funds as the industry moves towards new business models. It will be interesting to see which companies are able to adapt and thrive in India’s changing digital landscape. At the same time, it is essential for users, investors and employees to remain cautious and informed during this period of change. The future of online gaming in India is uncertain. But one thing is clear. This industry has changed forever.
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