Is Stake Banned in India?

The Online Gaming Act of 2025 has further complicated the landscape of online gaming. In the new law, all types of real-money games (RMGs) are banned nationwide, such as poker, casinos,fantasy sports, rummy,and betting platforms.

This implies that international platforms like Stake.com, which rely on real-money gambling, are now classified as a prohibited category. While earlier, the rules differed across states, for example, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had already banned real-money gambling, but with the new Act, it enforces a countrywide ban on such platforms.

In this article, I break down what the new bill means for Stake in India, discuss its current accessibility, and highlight key points players need to know in 2025.

Is Stake Banned in India?

Stake is a well-known platform for online betting and casino games, where users can place wagers on sports and play with money as well as cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.

Current Legal Status (2025)

The introduction of the Online Gaming Act, 2025, has brought major changes to the legal landscape. The law enforces a nationwide ban on all Real Money Games (RMGs), covering betting, casino platforms, poker, rummy, fantasy sports, and international sites such as Stake.com.

Earlier, Stake was banned only in a few states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while other regions had vague or partial rules. However, the new central law overrides these state-level differences, making Stake illegal anywhere in India in 2025.

Can You Use a VPN to Access Stake?

Some people try to access Stake through a VPN, which hides your location and try to bypass the ban or block.

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However, according to Stake’s own rules, this is not allowed. If the platform detects VPN use, it may suspend your account or close it, and you could lose your money and winnings.

While a VPN might work for a short time, it carries significant risk. It's safer to avoid such methods or wait for a change in the laws.

A complete Overview Of Online Gambling Laws in India

India's gambling regulations have been influenced by both history and culture. Traditionally, only a few games like horse racing, lotteries, and rummy are legally allowed.

Earlier laws such as the Gaming Act of 1845 and the Betting Act of 1853, introduced during British rule, never accounted for modern online platforms. After independence, some states retained these old laws, while others introduced their own regulations. The Information Technology Act, 2000 also overlooked online gambling, which left a major regulatory gap for many years.

That gap has now been addressed with the introduction of the Online Gaming Act, 2025, which enforces a nationwide ban on all money-based online gaming. The law prohibits real-money gambling apps, blocks transactions via banks and UPI, and outlaws advertising for such platforms illegal. At the same time, it makes a clear distinction recognizing esports and free-to-play gaming as fully legal.

State-Wise Stake Legality in India (Before the 2025 Gaming Act)

Prior to 2025, Stake operated legally in most Indian states, with restrictions only in certain regions that had imposed their own bans, like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Here is a state-wise table of stake's legal status before Online Gaming Act, 2025 .

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After the Online Gaming Act, 2025, all real-money gaming platforms, including Stake, are banned nationwide, regardless of any state-level rules.

The table below highlights Stake’s state-wise legal status in India prior to the Online Gaming Act, 2025.

Conclusion -  Stake

With the Online Gaming Act, 2025, online gambling laws are now no longer a state-by-state difference in online gambling laws. The Act enforces a nationwide ban on all real-money gaming platforms, such as betting and casino websites like Stake.com.

Previously, Stake was accessible in most states except Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. However, the new law overrides state regulations and applies nationwide. While players themselves are not directly penalized, the Act targets operators, advertisers, and payment providers, with agencies like CERT-IN responsible for blocking access.