The Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025, was notified on May 21 after being passed during the state's budget session. This new law is expected to impact modern betting and gaming platforms, as it specifically targets public gambling activities, including betting on sports, elections, and match-fixing.
Earlier this week, MPL Opinio shut down its operations in Haryana in anticipation of the law's implementation. However, other opinion trading apps, such as Probo, are still active.
This regulatory change follows a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which called for action against betting platforms operating under the guise of opinion trading apps. The court has issued notices to both the central and state governments regarding this matter.
Earlier, Chhattisgarh High Court issued a directive the geo-blocking of such platforms within that state, although it did not impose a nationwide ban.
Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has clarified that these apps fall outside its regulatory oversight. Despite increasing scrutiny, the opinion trading industry appears resilient, boasting over 50 million users and generating transactions worth nearly Rs 50,000 crore, with projected revenues nearing Rs 1,000 crore in FY25, according to industry estimates.
Platforms like Probo have garnered significant investor interest, attracting backing from Peak XV Partners, Elevation Capital, and The Fundamentum Partnership, while TradeX receives support from Y Combinator.
The Haryana Act broadly defines betting as any agreement—oral, written, or implied—based on the outcomes of uncertain events, where failed predictions lead to financial or material losses, effectively including opinion trading apps under its scope.
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