The proposed Online Gaming Bill 2025 has gamers panicking about their favorite battle royale titles, but here’s the thing – BGMI and Free Fire might actually be safe from the sweeping money-based gaming ban.
The Key Difference: Gambling vs Gaming
While the government plans to ban platforms where players deposit money to win cash prizes, BGMI and Free Fire operate on completely different models. These games generate revenue through cosmetic purchases, battle passes, and character skins – not gambling mechanics where players risk money to win more money.
The legislation specifically targets real-money gaming where users can withdraw winnings. Battle royale games like BGMI don’t offer cash withdrawals or betting systems. You buy skins, you keep skins. Simple.
Free Fire’s Current Status
Free Fire has been banned in India since February 2022 due to data security concerns, not gambling issues. However, Free Fire Max continues operating and even hosted a Rs 1 crore tournament in 2025. This suggests the cosmetic-based revenue model isn’t what bothers regulators.
The original Free Fire ban stemmed from national security worries about data routing to Chinese servers. The new gaming bill addresses entirely different concerns about money laundering and gambling addiction.
BGMI’s Safer Position
BGMI appears well-positioned to survive the new regulations. Krafton already complied with India’s data localization requirements when PUBG Mobile was unbanned and relaunched as Battlegrounds Mobile India.
Since BGMI doesn’t involve cash gambling or withdrawal mechanisms, it falls outside the bill’s primary targets – fantasy sports, rummy, and poker platforms.
What About In-App Purchases?
The bill’s language focuses on “money-based gaming transactions” where players can win cash. Standard in-app purchases for cosmetics shouldn’t qualify since players aren’t gambling for monetary returns.
However, if the government interprets any monetary transaction as problematic, even cosmetic purchases could face scrutiny. The bill’s broad language leaves room for interpretation.
The Real Risk
The bigger threat isn’t the gambling ban – it’s potential expansion of security-based restrictions. If regulators decide battle royale games pose data security risks similar to the original Free Fire ban, that’s when BGMI could face trouble.
Bottom Line
Based on current information, BGMI and Free Fire Max should survive the Online Gaming Bill 2025. The legislation targets cash-gambling platforms, not cosmetic-based battle royale games. But until the final bill text emerges, nothing’s guaranteed in India’s rapidly evolving gaming landscape.