TLDR India’s Supreme Court rejected a challenge from Junglee Games, owned by Flutter Entertainment, against the country’s online gambling ban. Junglee argued that skill-based games should be treated differently from games of chance. The court ruled that betting on the outcome can turn skill-based games into gambling. Flutter Entertainment cut roughly 350 jobs after the ban took effect in May. A separate court challenge questioning whether the ban is constitutional is still pending.
India’s Supreme Court has rejected a bid by Junglee Games to overturn the country’s ban on online gambling. Junglee Games is owned by Flutter Entertainment.
The ruling was reported by GamblingNews on October 27. The court upheld the ban on real-money online games, including those based on skill.
The Court Ruled Against Junglee Games
Junglee Games challenged laws in two Indian states, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Both states prohibit real-money online games, even those that rely on skill.
The company argued that skill-based games are not the same as games of chance. It said they should be treated differently under the law.
The Supreme Court did not accept that argument. It ruled that betting on the outcome of a game can turn a skill-based game into gambling.
The court said that betting on games of skill does not enjoy immunity from the restrictions. As a result, the ban on these products stays in place.
According to GamblingNews, the ruling closes off one route that operators were using to fight the ban.
Job Cuts and a Similar Ban in Brazil
India approved its online gambling ban in 2025. The ban took effect in May of this year.
The ban ended India’s growing online gaming sector. Junglee Games chose to keep fighting the ban in court after it took effect.
Flutter Entertainment laid off roughly 350