Tax talk: How to declare winnings from banned real-money games
If you've played real-money games like Dream11 or Rummy in 2024-25—even though they're now banned—you still have to report any winnings when filing your taxes for the 2025-26 assessment year.
All winnings get hit with a flat 30% tax, no matter how much you made.
No deductions allowed
There are no shortcuts here: the 30% tax is on your total gaming earnings, with zero deductions.
Even if you lost money overall, those losses can't be subtracted or carried forward—they're just gone.
How to report your gaming income
Your gaming income goes under 'Income from Other Sources' in your tax return.
You need to declare every rupee won—big or small—or risk getting a notice from the tax department for hiding income.
TDS will still be deducted from your net winnings
Platforms will deduct tax at source (TDS) on your net winnings.
If TDS taken crosses ₹25,000, you must file an ITR—even if your total income is below the usual exemption limit.
So yes, even banned games can leave you with paperwork!