WPT Global, The Last Holdout in India Online Poker, Expected to Exit Market

WPT Global, the second largest global online poker site, is expected to stop serving Indian players today. Deposits and gameplay will be suspended imminently, and only withdrawals will be permitted from tomorrow, October 1.

The move follows the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans all real-money online games nationwide and left nearly every major India online poker site offline within hours of its passage.

The operator told customers it would discontinue services on September 30 and restrict access to withdrawals from October 1. Players have been asked to cash out balances, and those with Passport Dollars were told to contact support.

Local media reported the government is targeting October 1 for enforcement, though formal notification had not yet been issued. That uncertainty kept WPT Global live longer than peers, but the window has now closed.

Almost all other poker platforms left India immediately after the bill cleared Parliament and received presidential assent. PokerBaazi, PokerStars India, Junglee Poker, Adda52, Natural8, Spartan Poker, and MPL Poker switched off real-money games within days.

The shutdowns were quickly dubbed India’s Black Friday, echoing the day in 2011 when US authorities cut Americans off from global online poker. Indian sites replaced their lobbies with suspension notices that cited the new law.

Flutter, parent of PokerStars India and Junglee Poker, sharply criticized the speed of the legislative push. The group confirmed its exit and warned the ban would drive players to unregulated sites.

With WPT Global exiting, Indian players lose the last large, internationally branded real-money option. Some offshore sites reportedly remain accessible, but the legal risk and banking blocks will limit practical access.

What happens next for players

From October 1, WPT Global accounts owned by Indian residents will only support withdrawals. No gameplay or deposits will be possible. That aligns with the operator’s emailed timeline that set September 30 as the cutoff.

The enforcement date is still not officially notified. Reports from September 18 said authorities would implement the act on October 1 following talks with stakeholders. A further round of discussions was mentioned, and a more consultative approach was floated if extra time is required.

Despite the lack of formal notice, the blackout has already arrived in practice. Most sites made fast exits after the bill passed, anticipating payment blocks, advertising prohibitions, and new criminal liabilities once enforcement begins.

Some Indian platforms have pivoted to free-to-play modes. PokerStars India and Junglee Poker are running free-entry events with electronic prizes. PokerBaazi has kept its client online without real-money stakes, positioning it as a practice environment.

The law’s broad sweep covers all real-money games, whether skill or chance. Poker, rummy, and fantasy sports all fall under the prohibition. That scope is why so few alternatives remain.

How India got here

Parliament rushed through the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in August. It cleared both houses in quick succession, then received presidential assent, entering the final stage before formal notification.

The change unmade one of the largest growth markets for online poker. India had nurtured dozens of platforms, significant tournament series, and an expanding middle class of recreational and aspiring pro players.

Industry estimates suggest close to 200,000 jobs were tied to real-money gaming. Reports indicated hundreds of startups could shut and that annual tax revenues in the tens of thousands of crores were at risk.

The abrupt shift shocked operators. Flutter said the measure came on an exceptionally short timeframe and without consultation. The group argued a ban would not protect players, but instead push them to offshore sites without consumer safeguards.

Courts may still enter the picture. Legal experts expect challenges to argue that skill-based games like poker should not be grouped with gambling and that the central ban overreaches into state subjects. Tamil Nadu’s earlier blanket prohibition was struck down by its High Court, and operators returned to the state after that ruling. Nationwide action, however, presents a different test.

WPT’s India footprint and what could be lost

WPT Global’s exit marks the end of a deep poker relationship with India. The World Poker Tour brand has run multiple live festivals in the country and closed India’s biggest live series at the time. It also built strong online ties with local market leaders.

In late 2024, WPT announced a “special partnership” with PokerBaazi. That deal delivered WPT-branded online tournaments, online satellites into live WPT stops, and international package pathways for Indian qualifiers.

WPT’s previous tie-up with Adda52, dating back years, underscored how central India had become to its Asia plans. The brand invested in local marketing, social channels, and offers aimed squarely at Indian players.

That ecosystem is now paused. PokerBaazi and other large Indian rooms have moved to free-play modes or gone dark. The satellite pathway from India into global WPT events has vanished. Any restart depends on the outcome of court challenges or a future regulatory rethink.

The broader international landscape had already thinned. 888poker left India in 2020. Unibet exited in early 2024. PartyPoker historically did not take Indian registrations. GGPoker’s Natural8 launched a dedicated India client in 2023, connected to the global pool, but it also shut with the new law.

In the near term, real-money online poker in India is effectively offline. A few offshore sites appear accessible, but banking restrictions and criminal exposure loom once enforcement begins.

Some operators are trying to preserve communities through free-to-play events and prize drops. These initiatives are a stopgap and do not recreate the liquidity or prize pools that defined India’s poker boom.

Industry groups and companies are preparing legal challenges. The argument centers on constitutional limits and the historical treatment of skill games. Outcomes and timelines are uncertain.

For players, it is the most dramatic shift since the market’s rise. Tournament series, leaderboards, and online satellite trees are on hold. Live qualification routes tied to Indian platforms are suspended.

The country’s online poker scene is now in limbo. Court petitions and consultations could shape a different outcome, but timelines are unclear. If the reported enforcement date holds, the next decisive moment is October 1.

Key milestones and operator status