Real-Money Gaming Ban: Why esports influencers won’t feel the pinch

For the past few years, RMG platforms had been among the most aggressive spenders in India’s influencer marketing landscape, accounting for nearly 25–30% of creator ad revenues in gaming, according to experts. Campaigns often surged around festivals such as Raksha Bandhan, Holi, and Diwali, where betting brands lured influencers with lucrative “tips and tricks” contests, giveaways, and app review promotions.

But even at its peak, this revenue stream was not dominant for most creators. Instead, gaming influencers built their businesses on diversified income sources. Esports athletes draw steady salaries from their teams, receive a share of tournament prize pools, and earn from sponsorship deals. Content creators generate significant revenues through YouTube monetisation, livestream donations, fan subscriptions, and brand collaborations unrelated to betting.

Take the numbers: top esports players in India make between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹2 lakh per month through contracts, tournaments, and sponsorship cuts. On the other hand, creators with massive followings who stream regularly can earn between ₹4–5 crore annually from content and collaborations. These figures dwarf the earnings from sporadic RMG campaigns.

Rohit Agarwal, Founder and Director of gaming marketing firm Alpha Zegus, said, “For creators who were dependent on betting or RMG app campaigns, this is a big reset. But for most professional influencers, those deals were never core to their income. Sustainable streams like esports, casual gaming, and mainstream brands are where the long-term money is.”

He explained that his firm never encouraged influencers to associate with betting platforms. “Even when the payouts were tempting, we avoided RMG ads because brand safety and credibility matter more than quick wins. Now that regulation has come in, it clears the grey zone. Serious advertisers can step into gaming without overlap with betting,” he added.

Esports Gains Legitimacy

A defining feature of the new bill is its clear distinction between RMG and esports. For years, both categories were lumped together in public debates, creating a cloud of stigma around gamers. By officially recognising esports as a sport, the government has not only cleared misconceptions but also unlocked new opportunities for athletes and influencers.

Gaming creator Naman Mathur, popularly known as Mortal and co-founder of S8UL Esports, said, “What stands out in this bill is the clear separation of esports from real money gaming. For creators, that distinction is critical because it removes a major misconception about gaming in India. It tells parents and audiences that what we do is about skill and competition, not chance. That recognition makes it easier for new talent to come forward without stigma and for creators like us to build responsibly in this space.”

Professional athletes echoed the sentiment. Harsh Paudwal, aka SOUL Goblin, a BGMI athlete with Team iQOO Soul, explained, “As players, we’ve always known the grind behind esports—long hours of practice, teamwork, and constant learning. With the government investing in training and structured events, the upcoming generation of athletes will have a much clearer pathway to pursue esports professionally. It’s the kind of support that can really take Indian players to the global stage.”

The Numbers Behind Betting Promotions

Source: Qoruz

According to a Qoruz report tracking RMG influencer activity between January 2024 and January 2025, betting-related posts touched 34.8K. About 10.7K influencers promoted such platforms, generating a total engagement of 113 million with an average engagement rate of 0.42%.

The split shows how widely the campaigns cut across categories. Sports led with 33.98% of posts, followed by arts and entertainment (26.01%) and beauty (8%). Finance, lifestyle, and fashion influencers also participated, albeit in smaller proportions. Male creators formed 56% of participants, while female influencers accounted for 43%.

In terms of influencer tiers, 41.15% of posts came from micro-influencers, followed by 28.21% from macro, 14% from nano, and 10.62% from mega influencers. Some of the most sought-after creators included Amit Majithia (27.9M followers), Neel Trivedi (64.5K), and Raghav Sharma. Betting platforms like Adda52 Poker, BBhai Book, MG Lion Net, WinBuzz, and Lotus365 were especially aggressive, pushing heavily during festive peaks.

Now, all that vanishes overnight. Yet, creators who avoided this category, or treated it as supplementary income, will find themselves better positioned to adapt.

Building Brand Safety and Investor Confidence

From a business perspective, the bill is expected to push brands and investors toward esports and safe gaming. Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said, “The bill lays the foundation for sustainable growth and long-term stability. This clarity builds confidence among investors and brands, and we expect more non-endemic partners to see esports as a powerful way to connect with India’s young and engaged audiences.”

He added that the recognition of esports strengthens the larger gaming ecosystem—from intellectual properties and leagues to homegrown game development. “India is uniquely positioned to unlock its potential on the global esports stage. This policy shift provides the perfect springboard to take India’s esports story global,” he explained.

Similarly, Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL Esports, said, “For years, young gamers and creators chased their dreams in a space that lacked clarity. Now esports finally has the legitimacy it deserves. This strengthens the creator economy, because streamers and content creators play such a big role in mentoring the next generation. We’ll also see more brands reallocate their marketing budgets towards esports team sponsorships and creator partnerships, which will fuel the ecosystem further.”

Influencers Enter a Safer, More Credible Era

For gaming influencers, the short-term effect of losing RMG campaigns is softened by their existing diversified income models. In the long term, the new clarity could prove even more profitable. As brands previously wary of associating with gaming now see esports as a safe and legitimate avenue, influencer partnerships are likely to grow in both volume and value.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement after the bill’s passage underscored the dual intent: to protect citizens while promoting innovation. “This Bill highlights our commitment towards making India a hub for gaming, innovation and creativity. It will encourage esports and online social games. At the same time, it will save our society from the harmful effects of online money games,” he said.

For influencers, that duality works in their favour. They lose one category of ad revenue but gain legitimacy, stability, and stronger brand partnerships in return.

The collapse of betting campaigns may temporarily dent the market for creators who were overly reliant on the sector. Yet, for the broader influencer economy, the ban creates room for growth in safer, more enduring directions. With esports recognised as sport, brand safety elevated, and mainstream companies ready to step in, influencers can focus on building careers untethered to compliance risks.

The Indian Parliament’s passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 marks one of the sharpest crackdowns on real-money gaming (RMG) in the country’s digital economy. The bill bans money-based gaming platforms outright, criminalises their advertising, and imposes stringent penalties on violators—ranging from three years in jail and a ₹1 crore fine for first-time offenders to five years in jail and ₹2 crore fines for repeat offenders. The message is unambiguous: the government will encourage esports and safe skill-based gaming, but RMG operators and their partners will face swift and severe consequences.

While the decision has sparked widespread debate in India’s booming gaming space, industry insiders argue that the impact on influencers—especially esports athletes and gaming content creators—will be far less damaging than expected. The reason: for most creators, brand deals with betting apps were never the primary source of income.