MPL halts ‘Opinio’ in Haryana amid legal heat on opinion trading
India’s leading online gaming platform Mobile Premier League (MPL) has suspended its ‘Opinio’ feature in Haryana, in response to growing legal scrutiny of opinion trading platforms. The move follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking a ban on such platforms. The case is scheduled for hearing on May 20.
The updated Terms and Conditions on MPL now clearly state that users from Haryana are barred from participating in “formats that pertain to events whose outcome is unknown,” including both MPL Opinio and MPL Fantasy.
Updated user restrictions on MPL
According to MPL’s platform rules, “This Platform may not be used by persons located in the states of Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Further, there may be certain games that may be restricted in some additional states. Formats that pertain to events whose outcome is unknown, specifically MPL Opinio and MPL Fantasy, shall not be used by users located in the state of Haryana.”
The update comes just after the passage of the Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Bill, 2025 during the state’s budget session. The Bill was introduced by Chief Minister and Home Minister Nayab Singh Saini. It aims to clamp down on all forms of public gambling, including sports and election betting, as well as match-fixing.
CAIT and legal experts call for national policy
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has demanded a nationwide ban, terming these platforms as “online satta” and warning they could influence electoral outcomes. CAIT sent letters to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, urging immediate regulation.
Corporate lawyer Supreme Waskar in an exclusive conversation with SiGMA News said, “There is need for coordinated action across multiple government agencies, including SEBI, MeitY, RBI, and MHA. Whether through a new regulatory category under SEBI or a multi-agency task force, India must establish either a formal licensing and compliance mechanism or explicitly prohibit these platforms.”
Comparative international experience also supports stronger action. In jurisdictions like the United States and the UK, similar event-based prediction markets are treated as speculative financial instruments or unlicensed gambling and are either banned or heavily regulated, Waskar explained. India should draw from these examples and implement clear rules to prevent unregulated platforms from gaining mass traction under the radar.
Growing crackdown across India
Haryana is not alone in moving against opinion trading apps. Chhattisgarh has already banned platforms like Probo, SportsBaazi, and TradeX. Other states are also examining legal action.
At the national level, the Supreme Court recently revived a case challenging the legality of such platforms. The case, filed by petitioner Sumit Kapurbhai Prajapati, had earlier been dismissed by the Gujarat High Court. The apex court criticised the dismissal and reinstated the PIL.
