Google is set to officially halt all advertisements for Rummy and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) on its platforms in India starting January 21, 2026. This move follows a significant policy update announced earlier this month, marking a decisive tightening of advertising rules for the real-money gaming (RMG) sector in the country.
Legislative Pressure: The Shadow of PROGA 2025
The policy shift is widely viewed as a direct response to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA), which was passed by the Indian Parliament in August 2025.
- Enforcement Churn: Although PROGA has not been formally enacted—despite receiving presidential assent nearly five months ago—the mere passage of the law caused a mass exodus of RMG operators from the market.
- Ecosystem Purge: By removing Rummy and DFS from its permitted ad categories, Google is effectively dismantling the primary digital acquisition channel for any remaining skill-based gaming platforms in India.
The End of Antitrust Friction
Google’s new stance also brings a quiet end to years of regulatory and competition-based scrutiny regarding its treatment of gaming apps.
- The WinZo Dispute: In 2022, Google launched a pilot program that allowed only Rummy and DFS apps on the Play Store, excluding other skill-based categories. This led the multi-gaming platform WinZo to file an antitrust complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
- Moot Proposals: In late 2025, Google had proposed a certification-based model to allow more gaming apps to advertise. However, with the passage of PROGA and the subsequent blanket ban on online money games, legal experts consider these previous antitrust proceedings to be effectively moot.
“While the immediate impact may be limited due to the prior shutdown of most RMG firms, Google’s move represents the final nail in the coffin for the sector’s mainstream digital visibility in India.” — Industry Analyst
Future Outlook: All Eyes on the Supreme Court
The survival of the industry now rests entirely on a constitutional challenge currently before the Supreme Court of India. Multiple petitions are contesting the validity of PROGA’s blanket ban, arguing that “games of skill” like Rummy and Fantasy Sports should be protected from such restrictive measures.
The Supreme Court has deferred substantive hearings and a final ruling until early 2026. Until then, the Indian RMG market remains in a state of regulatory paralysis.
