Startup Originals Team
Probo, a popular opinion trading platform in India, has officially shut down its real-money gaming services in response to the recently passed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The legislation, once signed by President Droupadi Murmu, will impose a nationwide ban on all real-money gaming platforms, impacting not only Probo but the entire real-money gaming sector.
What Prompted the Shutdown?
The Online Gaming Bill, approved by the Rajya Sabha, specifically targets real-money online games like Dream11, WinZO, RummyCircle, and Probo. It prescribes strict penalties, including up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 1 crore for violators.
- Immediate Actions: Probo paused all recharge activities and notified users to withdraw their funds.
- Statement from Probo: The company announced discontinuation of real-money gaming operations “with immediate effect until further notice,” stressing respect for the latest law.
Regulatory and Legal Pressures:
Before the legislation, Probo was already under scrutiny:
- July 2025 Enforcement Directorate Raids: The ED froze assets worth Rs 284.5 crore, including fixed deposits, shares, and bank lockers of company promoters, following money laundering allegations and multiple FIRs.
- Nature of Allegations: Complaints included claims of inducing gambling while operating as an “opinion trading” platform, leading to charges under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Probo also faces ongoing legal battles in courts across India. While proceedings in some cases are stayed, the Supreme Court is handling petitions challenging the legal status of opinion trading.
Industry-Wide Impact:
- The real-money gaming sector reportedly employs around 200,000 people and contributes about Rs 20,000 crore in taxes annually.
- The ban and Probo’s shutdown highlight the sector’s vulnerability to sudden regulatory action.
Probo’s Perspective: Skill or Gambling?
Executives at Probo, including business head Anurag Dhandhi, have argued that opinion trading should be treated as a skill-based activity, akin to regulated financial markets in the US. They cite benefits such as promoting financial literacy, data-driven decision-making, and contributing to the digital economy.
Closing Thoughts from Probo’s CEO:
Sachin Gupta, Probo’s CEO, wrote in a heartfelt LinkedIn post,
“For 16 years, almost everyone advised me against this idea-today they seem right. Love to all who cared and still do.”
He acknowledged how tough the decision is for the team, but accepted the government’s ruling.
Conclusion:
Probo’s shutdown is a landmark moment for India’s online gaming industry, reflecting broader regulatory and social shifts. As the sector grapples with the new law and ongoing legal battles, the fate of real-money games hangs in the balance-raising tough questions about balancing innovation, employment, and responsible regulation.
