GAME OVER

High GST rates and TDS on earnings had slowed revenues from subscriptions and ads even before the ban on real-money online gaming

- SAMREEN WANI

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, banning real-money online gaming in India, could have devastating consequences for an industry that was already struggling due to high GST rates. Imposition of a 28 percent GST rate in October 2023 and a TDS on earnings played spoilsport, while revenues had climbed by 19.5 percent previously. Fantasy sport and card