The Haryana government has launched the Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025, bringing changes to betting and gaming operations in the state. This law was enforced on May 21, aiming to curb public gambling activities, such as sports betting, elections, and other events with uncertain outcomes. 

Furthermore, the Act defines a bet as an oral or written agreement on whether an uncertain event occurs or not. This includes games of chance and newer digital formats like opinion trading. Violations might result in three to five years imprisonment and fines starting at ₹5 lakh, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders.

Platforms Like MPL Opinio Exit, Others Await Clarity

MPL Opinio, an opinion trading platform, halted its Haryana operations in anticipation of the law. Conversely, other apps like Probo still operate in the state. A Probo representative confirmed the platform is functional, but didn’t provide further comments. Opinion trading platforms allow users to participate in prediction markets by trading on the likelihood of future events. A public interest litigation filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court had charged such platforms earlier, alleging they disguise betting as opinion trading.

Startups Face Regulatory Trilemma

Legal experts and startup advocates believe the Act could impact Haryana’s thriving digital ecosystem severely in tech hubs like Gurugram. Managing partner at KS Legal & Associates, Sonam Chandwani, said the law “delivers a severe blow to opinion and fantasy trading startups” due to its wide definition of betting. She warned that the Act creates a legal minefield forcing startups to navigate regulatory changes, relocate to more lenient jurisdictions, or shut down. 

Ketan Mukhija, senior partner at Burgeon Law, called the Act regressive, arguing that it criminalizes innovation by not differentiating skill-based predictions and gambling. 

Other legal practitioners, such as Ajay Khatalawala of Little & Co, noted that platforms with skill-based games might need to register with Haryana authorities for exemptions. However, the path to compliance remains unclear without a clear licensing system or regulatory framework. 

Legal Scrutiny Grows as Platforms Expand

Despite regulatory hurdles, the opinion trading market continues to grow fast. Platforms like Probo and SportsBaazi have classed their operations as skill-based, attracting millions of users. Industry reports estimate over ₹50,000 crore in annual transaction volumes and projected revenues of ₹1,000 crore for FY25. 

However, their future hinges on judicial interpretation and policy reforms. For now, the ban on opinion trading in Haryana is subject to assessment case-by-case, leaving the sector in legal limbo.