How Do Non-RMG Platforms Mimic Real Money Games Without Cash Deposits?

When the government put the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, into force, it marked a decisive break for many online gamers from the booming real-money gaming (RMG) culture that had taken hold across the country. But it has also opened the doors to non-RMGs that offer the thrill of winning, without risking money.

The law, passed in August, has banned any game that involved cash deposits, money wagers or financial stakes. Gaming platforms offering or advertising such games would now face imprisonment up to three years and fines reaching Rs 1 crore. The Online Gaming Act 2025 doesn’t just prohibit RMGs but also bars banks and payment service providers from processing related transactions.

“Players want excitement, but not everyone wants to gamble,” says Meet Shah, CEO and Founder of BeBetta, a non-RMG gaming platform that claims to turn “time and skill” into value. “On non-RMG platforms, users invest effort, not money. That’s the core shift.”

Unlike RMGs, which rely on cash deposits and high-stakes wins, non-RMG platforms operate within a legally safe framework. Here, the “currency” is earned through participation, performance, and consistency. BeBetta, for instance, uses virtual coins that players accumulate via gameplay or completing challenges. Those coins can later be redeemed for rewards like gift cards or free products.

The psychology, Shah explains, is not all that different from what drives RMG engagement, competition, recognition, and progress. “Our players compete on leaderboards and gain social status in the community. The thrill doesn’t come from the fear of losing money but from skill, achievement, and belonging,” he says.

This has pushed a sharp pivot within the gaming industry for both players and the platforms. Many platforms that once thrived on real-money models are now experimenting with reward-based or hybrid ecosystems inspired by the non-RMG format. 

Platforms like BeBetta claim to have seen user growth since the crackdown. Shah says active users rose by roughly 23-24 per cent after the Act came into effect. “It shows the demand for gaming experiences that are competitive and rewarding, but not predatory,” he notes.

However, this new space is not without its own challenges. Many critics argue that while non-RMGs avoid financial addiction, they can still feed compulsive play through ‘leaderboard anxiety’ or falling into endless reward loops. 

The regulators have already begun to study these models closely, especially as the boundary between gaming and gamified advertising becomes increasingly blurred. Industry groups are also researching on models that can aptly distinguish the ‘risk’ elements of online games to ensure safe play in the long run.

Shah insists the solution lies in responsible design. “Our monetisation is opt-in. Players can remove ads or buy boosters, but nothing essential is behind a paywall,” he says. “That transparency builds trust. Users who once lost money to RMGs are now finding safer engagement here.”

While this could be a part of a larger behavioural correction, in the absence of quick-money temptations, Indian gamers are rediscovering the fun of skill-based competition where the biggest reward is still recognition.

As India’s gaming landscape resets under the new law, while the Act itself is going through legal battles, one thing seems certain: the thrill isn’t gone.

Contributed by Anuradha Mishra