Is rummy legal in India?

Updated 3 Nov 2026. Not legal advice.

Free rummy is legal. Rummy for money is not. Since 1 May 2026, India has banned all online money games, whether they rely on skill or on chance.

What the law bans

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 bans offering online money games, advertising them and processing their payments. It also covers services run from outside India.

What is still allowed

Free social rummy with no stakes remains legal, along with e-sports. Check that an app has no deposits, entry fees or cash prizes. You can play free rummy here.

What happened to the big rummy brands?

Licensed operators changed course after the Act came into force. Several shut real-money games or moved to free play. The apps still offering cash games are mostly APK-only apps with no named company, which is why we check each one.

Is the law final?

The Act is under challenge in the Supreme Court, and we found no order pausing it. We'll update this page if that changes.

Lost money already?

Stop depositing and don't pay any fee to “unlock” a withdrawal. Report the payments on the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or at cybercrime.gov.in, with your UPI transaction IDs.