“Lok Sabha Clears Online Gaming Bill: Betting Apps Banned, E-Sports Backed”

New Delhi, August 21, 2025: The Lok Sabha has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a landmark legislation that draws a sharp line between recreational gaming and betting apps. The Bill seeks to prohibit all real-money online gaming platforms—from poker and rummy to fantasy sports—while simultaneously encouraging the growth of e-sports and educational gaming.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while piloting the Bill, warned: “The addiction to online money games is worse than drugs. Families are being destroyed, children are being trapped, and even national security is at stake due to money laundering through these apps.”

“No More Betting: Real-Money Gaming Declared Illegal”

The Bill categorically bans all forms of online real-money games, whether of skill or chance. Platforms offering these services will no longer be able to advertise, transact, or operate within India. The government has also barred celebrities from endorsing such platforms. “No famous personality will be allowed to mislead the youth into financial ruin,” the Minister stated.

Violators of the law face strict penalties: up to three years of imprisonment and fines reaching ₹1 crore for first-time offenders, and up to five years with fines of ₹2 crore for repeat violations.

“National Regulator to Oversee the Digital Playground”

The legislation establishes a National Online Gaming Commission (NOGC), a central authority that will regulate, license, and monitor permissible gaming activities. This regulator will also implement consumer safeguards such as age-verification, deposit limits, and grievance redressal systems.

According to the draft framework, the government has allocated ₹50 crore in initial funding and expects to spend around ₹20 crore annually on running the authority.

“Addiction, Debt, and Crime: The Social Justification”

The government defended the legislation citing an alarming rise in gaming-related addiction, suicides, and financial crimes. “We cannot allow our youth to fall prey to manipulative apps designed only to extract money,” said a senior official during the debate. The Bill also flags money laundering and terror financing risks as critical reasons for the crackdown.

“Industry Sees Red: Stocks Slide, Jobs at Risk”

The passage of the Bill has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry. Shares of Nazara Technologies and Delta Corp fell by up to seven percent soon after Cabinet clearance of the draft.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram voiced sharp opposition: “This law will kill four lakh jobs, drive out $6 billion of investments, and force players to unregulated offshore apps and the dark web. The government must send this Bill to a parliamentary committee before bulldozing it into law.”

“Safe Gaming, Not Banned Gaming”

Interestingly, while banning money games, the government has chosen to support the booming e-sports sector. The Bill promotes games that are educational, social, or competitive in nature without monetary stakes. The Minister noted: “E-sports and innovation-driven gaming will flourish in India. This Bill ensures we protect our youth while boosting safe entertainment and digital entrepreneurship.”

The Online Gaming Bill, 2025 is one of the most ambitious attempts to regulate India’s rapidly expanding digital gaming ecosystem. While the government hails it as a safeguard against addiction and crime, critics warn of economic repercussions and regulatory overreach. Whether it becomes a shield for society or a setback for innovation will depend on how the law is enforced and how the industry adapts in the coming months.