Moonshine Technologies has shifted PokerBaazi to an advertisement driven and subscription based format, housing the new model under its wholly owned subsidiary Get Zapped Technologies Limited. The free to play poker platform will continue under the PokerBaazi brand, with revenues now expected to flow from advertising and paid subscriptions.
The move follows the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which outlaws real money online gaming across India. Although the law is yet to formally come into force despite six months having elapsed since its enactment.
A senior official and spokesperson from Moonshine Technologies confirmed that PokerBaazi will now operate as a free to play platform supported by advertising revenue, with subscription plans for users who prefer an uninterrupted and enhanced experience. The business will be housed under Get Zapped Technologies Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in England.
Under the revised structure, users can access PokerBaazi for free with advertisements embedded in the experience. Those seeking an ad free environment can purchase subscriptions priced at Rs 499 per month or Rs 999 for three months. Subscribers will also gain access to poker focused content and additional features designed to enhance engagement.
Industry executives say the shift marks one of the most significant strategic resets in India’s gaming ecosystem since the Act was passed in August 2025. The legislation prohibits online games involving real money stakes, which dismantled the core revenue model of several operators.
Moonshine Technologies, an associate of Nazara Technologies, operated exclusively in the real money gaming segment through subsidiaries such as OpenPlay, Baazi Networks and SBN Gaming Network. Nazara had acquired a 47.7 percent stake in Moonshine in September 2024 for around Rs 832 crore. Following the enactment of the Gaming Act, Nazara reported a Rs 914.7 crore impairment on its investment, reflecting the sharp impact of the regulatory overhaul.
A gaming industry executive who requested anonymity described the pivot as both defensive and forward looking. “Real money gaming was the backbone of poker platforms in India. With that avenue closed, companies are trying to preserve brand equity and user communities through alternative monetisation strategies. Advertising and subscription provide compliance while keeping the ecosystem alive,” the executive said.
Another digital media consultant tracking gaming monetisation trends noted that the freemium model is globally established in mobile gaming. “The combination of free access supported by advertising and premium subscription tiers is standard internationally. The challenge in India will be behavioural. Poker audiences have historically been motivated by financial stakes. Converting them into entertainment focused users will require strong content and community engagement,” the consultant said.
Advertising viability will depend heavily on user retention metrics, including time spent on the platform and repeat engagement. A senior executive at a digital advertising agency said brands may approach cautiously. “Advertisers will evaluate scale, demographic alignment and brand safety. If PokerBaazi can demonstrate sustained engagement and curated content, the inventory could become attractive, particularly for fintech and youth focused brands,” the executive said.
The subscription pricing strategy suggests a focus on affordability and volume conversion. At Rs 499 per month, the offering is positioned within the range of mainstream digital entertainment services, potentially encouraging trial among loyal users. Analysts say that even a modest conversion rate from PokerBaazi’s historical user base could create predictable recurring revenue streams.
Legal experts also point to the incorporation of Get Zapped Technologies Limited in England as a strategic move. While it remains a 100 percent subsidiary of Moonshine, the international structure could provide flexibility in terms of governance, overseas expansion and investor alignment.
The broader industry is closely monitoring the experiment. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 has triggered a structural reset across the sector, prompting companies to explore skill based formats, casual gaming, micro drama platforms and other alternatives around content led ecosystems.
For PokerBaazi, once synonymous with India’s real money poker boom, the transformation represents a fundamental shift in identity. The platform is now betting on advertising revenue, subscription income and community driven engagement rather than cash stakes.
Whether users embrace poker as pure digital entertainment, and whether advertisers commit meaningful budgets to the format, will determine if this pivot becomes a sustainable blueprint for the industry or a temporary bridge.
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