Is FanCode legal in India?
Yes, in non-restricted states, under the PROG Act 2025 framework and the MeitY Online Gaming rules. Six states currently notify prohibition.
FanCode fantasy contests are real-money gaming services under Indian law. The central framework is the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROG Act 2025) and the MeitY Online Gaming rules, 2023. Six states currently notify prohibition; Meghalaya operates a permitted list. The desk does not provide legal advice.
Editorial explainer · 29-Jul-2026
The central framework: PROG Act 2025 & MeitY rules
The PROG Act 2025 frames online real-money gaming at the federal level, defining three categories — games of skill (permitted), games of chance (prohibited), and "online money gaming" services that aggregate the two. Fantasy sports contests with verified skill components (sports knowledge, statistical forecasting) sit under games of skill and are permitted subject to state-level regimes and KYC / age-verification compliance.
Restricted states — six currently
Andhra PradeshRestrictedAP Gaming Act 1974 + 2020 amendment
AssamRestrictedAssam Gambling & Betting Act 1970
OdishaRestrictedOdisha State Gaming Act 1842 + 2005 amendment
SikkimRestrictedSikkim Online Gaming Act 2008
TelanganaRestrictedTelangana Gaming Act 1974 + 2017 amendment
NagalandRestrictedNagaland Prohibition of Gambling & Promotion of Online Games Act 2016
Permitted list — Meghalaya
Meghalaya operates a permitted list for online real-money gaming under the PROG Act 2025 framework, subject to a state-issued permit and the operator's compliance posture. The desk publishes the status; the operator's sign-up flow does the actual eligibility check.
MeitY Online Gaming rules — what they require
- Mandatory KYC at first deposit (PAN + bank/UPI).
- Mandatory age verification (18+).
- Restricted-state enforcement at the IP and the KYC step.
- Publisher identity disclosure (the operator publishes the publisher name on every sign-up flow).
- Withdrawal pathway with a verifiable timeframe.
Reading the desk's reading
The desk reads FanCode's compliance posture as solid — restricted-state enforcement is strict (IPs and KYC are double-checked at sign-up), KYC is mandatory at first deposit, and the publisher identity is disclosed on every install. The desk's caveat is the same as for any operator in this category: state-level regimes can shift year by year. What is permitted today may be restricted in a future notification; what is restricted today may be permitted under a later framework.
The desk's caveat — read this carefully
This page is editorial, not legal advice. The desk tracks the central framework and the state-level regime references as best we can. If you need to make a binding call on your eligibility — for compliance, tax or licensing reasons — consult a qualified lawyer in your state. The desk's reading should not be treated as a substitute.
A note on taxation
Real-money gaming winnings are taxed at source under Indian income-tax rules. The operator deducts TDS at the rate published by the income-tax department and issues Form 16A at year-end. The desk does not provide tax advice; consult a qualified CA for the version-of-record.
Reader questions — legality
Which states are restricted?
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Nagaland. Meghalaya operates a permitted list.
Is it legal in Maharashtra?
Yes. The Public Gambling Act, 1867 has been interpreted to exclude fantasy sports; the desk reads the Maharashtra regime as permitted.
What if I travel to a restricted state?
The operator's onboarding flow checks your IP against state rules. If you are physically in a restricted state, the operator may suspend onboarding until you return.
Do I have to pay tax on winnings?
Yes. The operator deducts TDS at the rate published by the income-tax department. Form 16A is issued at year-end.
Does the desk provide legal advice?
No. Editorial only. Consult a qualified lawyer in your state for binding calls.
Reading the state regimes — what the desk recommends
The desk recommends reading the state regime as a binding rule. If you are physically in a restricted state, the operator pauses onboarding; if you are physically in a permitted state, the onboarding flow proceeds. The desk flags this as a compliance posture, not a marketing line. Circumventing the gate is a violation under both the operator's terms and the underlying state-level regime.
Why this is conservative
The desk takes a conservative reading because the central framework (PROG Act 2025) sets the floor, while state-level regimes set the specifics. Where the two diverge, the more restrictive regime typically wins in practice; the desk reads state-level prohibition as binding.
A reading note — what changes year to year
State-level prohibition regimes are not static. Andhra Pradesh's regime has been amended three times since 1974; Sikkim's online gaming rules were updated in 2008; Nagaland's framework is the most restrictive of the six. The desk publishes the current state on this page; for binding calls, consult a qualified lawyer in your state.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROG Act) is the central framework that defines "online money gaming" services. Where the operator publishes a state-specific compliance, the desk cross-references with the central framework here.
A reading note — what changes month to month
The legal landscape for online real-money gaming in India is active. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROG Act 2025) sets the central framework; state-level regimes supplement or restrict at the state level. The desk tracks each major development and updates the is-legal lane within 24 hours of a verifiable public-record change.
Major pending developments the desk is tracking: (1) state-level amendments to the existing six restricted-state regimes, (2) potential new entrants to the restricted-states list, (3) potential new entrants to the permitted list, (4) operator-level changes in compliance posture (the desk records operator-level changes on the review lane). For the version-of-record on any of these, consult a qualified lawyer in your state.
The desk is editorial, not legal advisory. Where you want a binding call on your eligibility — for compliance, tax or licensing reasons — consult a qualified lawyer. The desk's reading should not be treated as a substitute.
Where a state-level regime publishes a public amendment, the desk verifies against the state Gazette (where available) and the public regulatory page. Where the desk cannot verify (e.g. a private state-level amendment under embargo), the desk does not publish the change.
For general awareness of the central framework, the MeitY Online Gaming rules page and the official PROG Act 2025 publication carry the version-of-record. The desk's lane summarises in plain English.