India’s Supreme Court Upholds Gaming Ban Against Junglee Games

India’s Supreme Court has rejected Flutter Entertainment’s Junglee Games’ appeal to overturn a nationwide ban on online gambling. The court upheld the ban, which came into effect in May 2026, ruling that betting on skill-based games does not exempt them from existing restrictions.

What Happened

Flutter Entertainment’s Junglee Games challenged India’s online gambling ban, which was approved in 2025 and implemented in May 2026, effectively ending the Indian iGaming sector, according to GamblingNews. The challenge specifically targeted laws in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which prohibit real-money online games, including those based on skill.

Junglee Games argued that skill-based games should be differentiated from chance-based games and thus treated differently under the law. However, the Supreme Court maintained that wagering on the outcome of a game can transform even skill-based activities into gambling, opting to uphold the ban on such products. The court stated that betting on games of skill does not grant them immunity from the established prohibitions, as reported by GamblingNews and corroborated by the 2026 INSC 594 judgment.

Key Details

• Junglee Games challenged the ban at the state level, specifically concerning laws in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which prohibit real-money online games (GamblingNews).
• Junglee argued for different treatment for skill-based games compared to chance-based games (GamblingNews).
• The Supreme Court ruled that betting on the outcome can turn skill-based games into gambling, upholding the ban (2026 INSC 594, GamblingNews).
• Flutter Entertainment, Junglee’s parent company, was reportedly compelled to lay off approximately 350 employees due to the regulatory changes (GamblingNews).

Why It Matters

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold India’s online gaming ban has significant implications for operators in the region, reinforcing regulatory restrictions introduced last year. This ruling validates the government’s broad prohibition, impacting companies like Flutter Entertainment, which reportedly had to reduce its workforce by approximately 350 employees following the changes, according to GamblingNews. The situation in India is presented as comparable to regulatory actions in other markets, such as Brazil, which also curtailed its online gaming sector, forcing operators to close local offices.

What’s Next

While Junglee Games’ specific appeal was rejected, the broader legal challenge against the constitutionality of the overreaching ban is reportedly ongoing by other gaming companies (GamblingNews). Operators and suppliers affected by similar bans in other jurisdictions, such as Brazil, have indicated openness to re-entering markets should regulations change (GamblingNews).