What UPI is
The Unified Payments Interface, run by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the Reserve Bank of India, links a mobile number or UPI ID to a bank account so that money moves between Indian accounts in rupees within seconds. Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm and BHIM are apps built on it; the money always sits in, and leaves from, an Indian bank.
Why a UPI payment to an online casino is caught
Every UPI payment passes through at least two Indian banks and a payment app. The Act bars each of them from handling money bound for an online money gaming service, and a breach is punishable with up to 3 years in prison, a fine of up to ₹1 crore, or both.
When the Rules were notified, the Centre spelt out the effect: banks and payment systems are barred from processing transactions linked to online money games.
UPI and other methods compared
| Method | Runs through an Indian bank | Covered by section 7 |
|---|---|---|
| UPI | Yes | Yes |
| Net banking, IMPS | Yes | Yes |
| RuPay, Visa, Mastercard cards issued in India | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign e-wallet loaded from India | Yes, when loaded | Yes, for the Indian bank or card that loads it |
Questions
Can UPI be used at online casinos in India?
No. Banks and payment apps may not process a UPI payment to an online money gaming service, and one that does commits an offence under the 2025 Act.
Who runs UPI?
NPCI runs it, with the Reserve Bank of India overseeing.
Sources
- Online Gaming Act, 2025, MeitY text: section 7, with the penalties in section 9
- PIB, 30 April 2026
- National Payments Corporation of India, UPI