Online Gaming Bill 2025 passed in Lok Sabha: Amid protests from opposition MPs, the bill was passed by voice vote after brief remarks by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Online Gaming Bill: Lok Sabha approves bill banning real money gaming
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill, 2025, which aims to ban all forms of online real-money games.Amid protests from opposition members, the Bill was passed by voice vote after brief remarks by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. After its passage, the House was adjourned for the day.
What does the Bill ban?
The Bill defines 'online money games' as any game that requires an entry fee or cash deposit, whether based on skill or chance. The Bill prohibits any person or company from offering, assisting or promoting such games. It also bans advertisements for these platforms and prevents banks and other financial institutions from processing related payments.
Once enacted, any person or entity offering or facilitating online money gaming could face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to ₹1 crore, or both. The law is part of a broader government effort to regulate digital gaming in India, while also attempting to protect users from the financial and psychological risks associated with such platforms.
The bill was earlier approved by the Union Cabinet and is now pending consideration in the Rajya Sabha. MPs have highlighted the growing use of online gaming applications, some of which have been linked to financial scams and addictive behaviour, as justification for the law.
However, the bill has been criticised by industry groups such as the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), Fantasy Sports Federation of India (FIFS), and E-Gaming Federation of India (EGF). They argue that it could lead to the closure of over 400 companies, loss of nearly 2,00,000 jobs, and players moving to unregulated foreign platforms. They also said that the sector contributes GST of around ₹20,000 crore annually and if regulated instead of banned, it could play a key role in achieving India's $1 trillion digital economy goal.
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