What the 2025 Act changed, then the state overlay
Online real-money cricket betting is prohibited in Telangana under the federal Act in force from 1 May 2026. The older state picture: Telangana was the first state to remove the 'skill' exemption for online games played for money.
What this means for you
Telangana removed the skill exemption for online games played for money in 2017. The 2025 Act now prohibits online money games nationwide as well.
Relevant Laws
- Telangana Gaming Act, 1974 (Amended 2017)
State Legal FAQ
Can I play Dream11 in Hyderabad?
Paid fantasy cricket for a stake is an online money game under the 2025 Act. It is not lawful in Telangana or anywhere else in India from 1 May 2026. Telangana had already removed the skill exemption for online games played for money in 2017. This page is not legal advice.
Sources
Every legal claim on this page traces to the material below. Primary sources are the statute and government notifications themselves.
- The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (Act No. 32 of 2025) — full text(opens in a new tab) — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of IndiaPrimary source
- Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 — official announcement(opens in a new tab) — Press Information Bureau, Government of IndiaPrimary source
- The Online Gaming Act, 2025 — redrawing India's online gaming landscape(opens in a new tab) — Trilegal