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In today’s newsletter: 

• Dream11 plans to shut real-money gaming business
• Bike taxis back in Karnataka
• Pune emerges as a GCC hotspot

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The impact of India’s online gaming bill has already begun, with two top real-money gaming (RMG) operators, Dream Sports and Gameskraft, suspending their offerings in the country.

Dream Sports, the parent company of fantasy sports major Dream11, has paused all 'Pay to Play' contests on its recently launched fantasy sports app Dream Picks and suspended its casual RMG app Dream Play. Both apps were launched by Dream Sports in recent months.

These moves came shortly after the gaming bill was cleared in the Rajya Sabha today, a day after it was passed in the Lok Sabha.

• A notice on the app assured users that their account balances are safe and can be withdrawn through the Dream11 app

Dream Sports is also planning to suspend paid contests on its flagship Dream11 app once the law is notified following the President's assent, sources told us. 

• Gameskraft's online rummy app RummyCulture has suspended the ability to "add cash and gameplay services". Meanwhile, opinion trading platform Probo also said it is immediately halting RMG operations

 India's proposed gaming law explicitly prohibits the offering of online money games or RMG apps, with penalties of up to three years of imprisonment or fines of Rs 1 crore for violations. 

• In addition to banning money-based games, the bill also proposes prohibiting their advertisements and related banking transactions

While introducing the bill, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called online money games a “public health risk.”

“Behind online money games, there are big personalities. It will be challenged in courts... But when it comes to saving youngsters, the priority will always be that,” Vaishnaw said.

MP John Brittas had moved a motion to refer the bill to a select committee, but the motion was denied through an oral vote.

Also read: 5 things to know about India’s proposed law to ban online real money gaming

Meanwhile, the advertising industry is bracing for a huge hit in revenues, as experts estimate that almost Rs 4,500 crore may be wiped out.

• From the Indian Premier League (IPL) to regional sports leagues and prime-time television, gaming platforms have become key advertisers—and their absence could leave a gaping hole in media revenues

Two wheels, many roadblocks: Bike taxis are back in Karnataka, for now

After a two-month suspension, Uber and Rapido quietly resumed bike taxi services in Karnataka on August 21. Ola has yet to follow suit.

The return comes just a day after the Karnataka High Court pulled up the State government for imposing a blanket ban without considering regulation.

“Give it serious thought, there are lives at stake here. Every trade is permissible unless regulated. This (bike taxi) is not res extra commercium,” a division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi, hearing appeals filed by Ola, Uber and Rapido, on August 20, observed.

The state banned bike taxis on June 16, following a court directive that such services cannot run without rules under the Motor Vehicles Act.

• The move disrupted daily commutes, pushed up auto fares, and left gig workers scrambling for alternative livelihoods
  

However, Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy told us that a decision on enforcement will be taken after discussions with transport department officials:

"The high court has given us a month to decide whether to frame a bike taxi policy. But the court has not permitted them to resume services. We will bring this to the notice of the court. A decision on enforcement will be taken after discussions with transport department officials."

While the Centre’s Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 allow bike taxis, Karnataka remains hesitant, largely due to pressure from auto and taxi unions.

• The state even scrapped its own Electric Bike Taxi Policy earlier this year, highlighting the deep policy deadlock

The next hearing is scheduled for September 22.   

Dig deeper

Pune is rapidly emerging as India’s next major Global Capability Centre (GCC) hub, shedding its “secondary tech city” label. 

In just the past five years, GCCs in Pune grew from 210 centres to over 360 centres at present.

• Major global MNCs, including Eaton, Mercedes-Benz Tech, BMW, Microsoft, Zendesk, Data Axle, Tenerity, and Kimberly-Clark, are deepening their footprint in the city
  
  
• Cost advantages, skilled talent availability, proximity to the financial capital Mumbai and GCC-friendly policies largely drive this

Once known for its manufacturing cluster, Pune is now seeing several sectors forming its clusters across the city’s locations. 

• For instance, Hinjewadi and Magarpatta are the destinations for IT and ER&D, Kharadi and Viman Nagar for BFSI, Chakan for auto and industrial R&D, and Yerwada for BFSI and knowledge services.

According to data from UneathInsight, Maharashtra currently hosts over 725 GCCs in total. Each year, approximately 80 to 100 new GCCs are expected, with 12–15% of these projected to choose Pune as their base.

Go deeper

• The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has decided to deploy an AI-powered robotic solution to detect and plug leakages in its ageing water pipeline network.
  
  
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that GPT-6 is already in the works, even as GPT-5 continues its rollout. 

Looking for something human in the age of AI?

Flesh and Code, a podcast hosted by Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire, dives into the lives of people who fall in love with chatbots.

• The podcast explores the deep emotional and ethical questions raised by these connections

Check it out on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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