SportsBaazi exits India's Haryana following new anti-gambling law
Opinion trading platform SportsBaazi has officially ceased operations in Indian state Haryana, following the introduction of the Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025—a new law that imposes penalties on online gambling, sports betting, and match-fixing.
The platform, known for its sports-based prediction markets, quietly updated its website to include Haryana among the list of restricted states, alongside Assam, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Nagaland.
“Please be informed that fantasy sport games on the SportsBaazi platform are ‘games of skill’ as per applicable laws and court judgments in India. You may participate in such games only if you are above 18 years of age and not a resident of any restricted states in India (i.e., Assam, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh & Nagaland.) in which playing, participating and/or operation of ‘games of skill’ for stakes is prohibited,” SportsBazzi said.
isn’t alone. Similar platforms like MPL Opinio have also pulled out of Haryana, while TradeX has halted all Real Money Gaming (RMG) services across the country in response to growing regulatory pressure.
MPL halts ‘Opinio’ in Haryana amid legal heat on opinion trading
Mobile Premier League (MPL), India’s online gaming platform, has also suspended its ‘Opinio’ feature in Haryana in response to growing legal scrutiny of opinion trading platforms. The move follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking a ban on such platforms.
The updated Terms and Conditions on MPL now clearly state that users from Haryana are barred from participating in “formats that pertain to events whose outcome is unknown,” including both MPL Opinio and MPL Fantasy.
According to MPL’s platform rules, “This Platform may not be used by persons located in the states of Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Further, there may be certain games that may be restricted in some additional states. Formats that pertain to events whose outcome is unknown, specifically MPL Opinio and MPL Fantasy, shall not be used by users located in the state of Haryana.”
TradeX shuts RMG in India amid GST burden
TradeX, an opinion trading platform, went a step further and announced the closure of its real-money gaming operations in India. The move follows increasing legal restrictions, a 28 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST), and recent bans in states like Chhattisgarh and Haryana. Founded in 2021 by entrepreneurs Divij Goyal and Ankit Shrivastava, TradeX allowed users to trade on public opinions and real-world events. The platform will now pivot to a free-to-play social gaming model.
The decision to exit real-money gaming comes after TradeX was blocked by the Chhattisgarh government under the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act, 2022, which classifies such platforms as online gambling services. Haryana also prohibited the app, adding further pressure.
In a message to users, TradeX announced, “After careful consideration, we are shifting from a real money gaming platform to a free-to-play, casual social gaming platform focused on fun and entertainment. Keeping that in mind we have stopped deposits of all users as well as stopping trading activities. This change is driven by the heavy 28 percent GST tax, which favours bigger players and made growth and profitability difficult for us.”
The Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025, introduced during the recent state budget session by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, introduces severe penalties for gambling-related offences. Those convicted of match-fixing or spot-fixing now face a minimum of three years in prison and a fine of at least ₹5 lakh. Repeat offenders could be imprisoned for up to seven years.
