Google has announced plans to update its Advertising Policies for Gambling and Games in India. The changes will take effect on January 21, 2026 and will ensure compliance with local legal requirements. The updated policy will prohibit content promoting Daily Fantasy Sports and Rummy, targeting Indian consumers. The policy update will align Google’s advertising framework with India’s evolving legal environment following the enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2025.
Google to Update its Gambling and Games Policy in India in 2026: Key Insights
- Google Ads will update its India-specific Gambling and Games advertising policy from January 21, 2026. The reformed policy will ban advertisements for Rummy and Daily Fantasy Sports in the country.
- Google reiterated that gambling-related advertising is allowed only in approved jurisdictions and under strict conditions, including licensing, certification and responsible gambling requirements.
- The update follows broader regulatory tightening in India’s online gaming sector, including a ban on real-money gaming that has already led to market exits and financial losses for major operators.
New Google Ads Policy to Align with India’s Gambling Restrictions
Google Ads will implement a significant revision to its India-specific Gambling and Games advertising policy on January 21, 2026. According to a changelog posted on Wednesday, January 7, the updated policy will prohibit advertisements for Rummy and Daily Fantasy Sports nationwide.
Once in force, Rummy and fantasy sports promotions targeting Indian consumers will not run on the Google Ads network. This will be one of the most substantial advertising restrictions to be imposed on India’s online gambling sector in recent years. This is part of Google’s plans to align its advertisement policy with India’s online gambling ban.
The decision will directly affect fantasy sports platforms, real-money gaming (RMG) operators, affiliate publishers and digital marketing agencies that rely heavily on Google Ads for customer acquisition and brand visibility. Industry stakeholders have increasingly depended on the platform as a primary distribution channel amid heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Google has yet to indicate whether alternative ad formats or exemptions will be introduced in the future. The company permits gambling-related advertising in select markets and under defined conditions, which are reviewed and updated in response to legislative developments.
India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2025, prohibits all forms of games of chance, including casino games, betting on fantasy sports, and other similar offerings. Industry stakeholders have criticised the blanket ban, calling for progressive regulations instead. Several petitions challenging the ban have been filed at the Supreme Court.
Potential Market Effect and the Road Ahead for India’s RMG Operators
Google allows gambling-related advertisements in jurisdictions where gambling is regulated. The company has warned that advertising without appropriate certification, or continuing to run ads after losing eligibility, may result in account suspensions until compliance is restored.
Following the January 21 update, Rummy and Daily Fantasy Sports will be removed from the list of permissible gambling-related advertising categories in India. This effectively closes Google Ads as a distribution channel for these formats. The policy update comes as India continues to tighten oversight of online gaming, signalling Google’s intent to remain aligned with domestic regulation, even where commercial disruption is likely.
India’s decision to ban real-money gaming has already had significant repercussions across the sector. The Supreme Court will hear petitions against the online gambling ban on January 21. The prohibition followed a period of strong industry growth, with the market previously projected to reach a value of $9.1 billion (roughly €7.8 billion) by 2029.
Domestic operators such as Dream11 and Mobile Premier League (MPL), along with international groups including Flutter, were forced to withdraw products from the Indian market. For several operators, the regulatory shift has resulted in substantial financial and operational consequences.
Flutter disclosed during its third-quarter earnings call that it recorded a $556 million (roughly €477 million) impairment charge related to the removal of its Junglee offering. The group reported a net loss of $789 million (approximately €677 million) and laid off 350 staff across its New Delhi and Bengaluru offices.
Despite the setback, Flutter has retained a free-to-play version of its content in India and has indicated it remains open to rebuilding its presence. Addressing investors, CEO Peter Jackson said the company had pursued “all the lobbying and legal challenges that you’d expect” in response to the prohibition.