Home » News »
4 Minutes Read
From the digital payment gateways to the waters of the Mandovi River, India’s gaming industry is navigating a period of intense scrutiny and change. Two recent developments have put both the online and live sectors in the spotlight, signalling new financial headwinds for players and stricter operational accountability for operators.
HDFC Bank, India’s largest private bank and leading credit card issuer, has drawn a new line in the sand. Starting July 1, 2025, the bank will levy a 1% fee on online skill-based gaming transactions exceeding ₹10,000 monthly. In a sharp twist, the fee will be calculated on the entire month’s spend, not just the excess, and will be accompanied by a complete removal of reward points for all gaming-related charges. This move signals a growing caution from the banking sector and adds to the financial pressure on an industry already grappling with a harsh tax regime.
Meanwhile, moving from the virtual felts to the live gaming tables on the Mandovi River, Goa’s famed casino industry is now under a tighter environmental watch. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has rolled out stringent new measures, including a dual-control system for sewage disposal and a mandate for real-time online water quality monitoring. This initiative highlights a broader push for transparency and sustainability, holding one of the state’s most visible industries to a new standard of accountability.
HDFC Bank to Levy 1% Fee on Online Gaming, Adding New Pressure to an Industry Already Under Siege
In a move that adds to the mounting pressure on India`s RMG industry, HDFC Bank is set to introduce a new fee that will directly impact millions of players. Starting July 1, 2025, the country’s largest private bank and leading credit card issuer will levy a 1% transaction fee on online skill-based gaming spends made with its credit cards.
The new rule, detailed in a communication to HDFC’s massive base of over 18 Million cardholders, applies once a user’s monthly gaming transactions exceed ₹10,000. In a sharp twist, the fee will be calculated on the entire amount spent during that month, not just the portion above the threshold, though it will be capped at ₹4,999 per transaction.
This policy directly targets real-money gaming (RMG) platforms like Dream11, MPL, Junglee Games, Adda52, and PokerBaazi, among others, which fall under the Merchant Category Code (MCC) 5816. But the financial squeeze doesn’t stop there. In a double blow to gamers, HDFC has also announced the complete removal of all reward points and CashPoints for gaming transactions across its entire credit card portfolio, including premium variants like Infinia and Diners Black.
This decision is part of a broader restructuring of HDFC’s credit card policies, which also introduces new 1% fees on wallet reloads and high-value utility payments. The move mirrors a similar step by Kotak Mahindra Bank, which began charging a 1% fee on gaming transactions on June 1, suggesting a new, challenging trend for the industry.
An Industry Already Under Siege
The timing of HDFC’s new policy is critical, as it lands on an industry already grappling with immense financial and regulatory pressure. The RMG sector is still reeling from the government’s imposition of a 28% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the full value of all player deposits. The weight of this tax has been crushing, with opinion trading platform TradeX halting its RMG operations last month, citing the “burdensome” GST as the tipping point.
Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), has been a vocal critic of the financial pressures facing the industry. He argues that the GST structure has created an “uneven and unsustainable playing field” for legally operating companies. He warned that additional charges from financial institutions like HDFC could further discourage users from playing on legal, regulated platforms, potentially pushing them towards a growing grey market.
Despite requests for clarification from media outlets, HDFC Bank has remained silent on the specific rationale behind the charge, leaving industry watchers to speculate whether the move is driven by profit motives, risk mitigation, or quiet regulatory pressure.
The Social Undercurrent and Industry Response
Parallel to the financial strain is the growing public conversation around digital gaming addiction, particularly among India’s youth. The scale of the industry is massive; the online gaming market is projected to more than double from $3.70 Billion in 2024 to $9.10 Billion by 2029.
In response to these concerns, the AIGF has spearheaded self-regulatory practices among its member platforms. These include tools for setting daily and monthly time and spending limits, and easily accessible self-exclusion options for players who wish to take a break. The federation has also partnered with the Government of Karnataka to launch the “Beyond the Screen” initiative, a program offering a suite of support resources like counselling services, therapy sessions, and educational content to promote responsible digital behaviour.
A New, Uneven Playing Field
While HDFC Bank’s new fee might disincentivise high-volume spending on gaming platforms, it raises serious questions about the future of the regulated RMG industry in India. The move risks pushing users toward unregulated or offshore gaming apps that operate outside of Indian tax and banking laws. Furthermore, it places an additional financial burden on legal, skill-based platforms already contributing heavily to the national exchequer via the 28% GST.
As India continues to wrestle with the complex legal, financial, and social challenges of online gaming, major financial institutions like HDFC are drawing clear boundaries—but whether those lines ultimately help or hinder the development of a safe, regulated industry is still an open game.
Goa’s Casinos Under the Scanner: GSPCB Mandates Online Monitoring Amid Broader Water Quality Concerns
Goa’s iconic offshore casinos are again under the scanner. Still, this time, the focus isn’t on licenses or relocation—it’s on what they leave behind in the state’s lifeline, the Mandovi River. In a decisive move to address long-standing environmental concerns, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has tightened its grip, implementing rigorous measures to ensure that the floating establishments are held to a new standard of accountability.
Dismissing fears of river pollution from the vessels, the board has detailed a new, meticulously monitored system for sewage disposal. At the heart of the protocol is a sealed, onboard sewage collection tank installed on each casino vessel. The GSPCB has instituted a dual-control system, placing these tanks under the constant surveillance of both its own officials and representatives from the Captain of Ports department. A senior official detailed the process: “A GSPCB official and a representative from the Captain of Ports are stationed to monitor the collection tanks. When the tank is full, the seal can only be opened in the presence of both officers.”
This strict, two-key system ensures that no waste is handled without oversight. Once the seal is broken, the collected sewage is transferred to a barge, transported to the shore, and carried by tankers to the sewage treatment plant at St. Inez for processing. The entire procedure is designed to be airtight, preventing any discharge into the Mandovi during handling or transit.
Beyond just managing waste, the GSPCB is leveraging technology to create a new layer of environmental protection. The board has mandated that all offshore casinos install online water quality monitoring systems. This directive, issued approximately four months ago, is expected to be fully implemented by now. These systems will continuously check the water quality surrounding the vessels, providing real-time data on the marine environment.
An official noted the strategic advantage of the casinos’ fixed positions, stating, “The casino boats are anchored at fixed locations, which allows us to conduct water quality tests year-round.” This constant monitoring makes it more effective and manageable to detect any potential contamination instantly.
The Larger Environmental Picture
These measures arrive against a backdrop of wider concerns about Goa’s water quality. Sanjeev Joglekar, Acting Member Secretary of the GSPCB, has highlighted the persistent issue of faecal coliform contamination in the state’s sea and river waters. However, he emphasizes the need to assess pollution levels using long-term data rather than isolated incidents to understand the true environmental trajectory.
To provide this clarity, the GSPCB is preparing a comprehensive State Environment Report that will analyze environmental indicators over the past seven years. Despite this focus on long-term trends, recent GSPCB findings from March 2024 to March 2025 paint a stark picture. Tests revealed faecal coliform counts ranging from 500 to 1100 MPN per 100 ml at several of Goa’s renowned beaches and rivers, significantly above the Central Pollution Control Board’s safe limit of 100 MPN/100 ml for recreational waters. Popular tourist spots like Miramar, Calangute, and Baga, along with the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, have been deemed unsuitable for bathing and fishing due to this high contamination.
With the new, stringent controls on offshore casinos, the GSPCB is making a clear statement. The reinforced pollution safeguards are in place and will be strictly enforced, signalling a new era of accountability for one of Goa’s most visible industries.
Get Up To $3,580 Gift Package
Up to ₹50,000 bonus on first 5 deposits
100% Bonus up to ₹1 Lakh
150% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000 & Weekly 33% rakeback
Poker in India
About PokerGuru
Contact Address
M/S Guru Sports Media Pvt Ltd (PokerGuru)
75, SOMNATH LAHIRI SARANI, FLAT NO. 4A and 4B,
Kolkata – 700053
Follow Us
Subscribe to our newsletter
© Copyright 2009 – 2025 PokerGuru All Rights Reserved
Have a news tip for coverage on PokerGuru?
Email us at editor@pokerguru.in or submit the same here
