The Online Gaming Bill 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. The bill seeks a complete ban on online money gaming, betting, and gambling, citing risks of addiction, financial distress, and misuse. It promotes e-sports and social gaming while prohibiting harmful apps, misleading ads.
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Amid the ongoing chaos in Parliament since the beginning of the monsoon session, the Online Gaming Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bill encourages e-sports and online social games while prohibiting harmful online money gaming services, advertisements, and related financial transactions.
As reported by news agency ANI, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, also proposes to outlaw all online betting and gambling activities. The bill primarily focuses on restricting online fantasy sports, as well as online gambling like poker, rummy, other card games, and online lotteries, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said in a statement minutes after its introduction.
While tabling the bill in the lower house, the government said, “The Bill seeks to completely ban offering, operating, or facilitating online money games, irrespective of whether based on skill, chance, or both,” as cited by ANI.
The bill aims to protect the country’s youth from predatory online real-money gaming apps. These applications manipulate young players through misleading 'monetary return promises,' leading to compulsive and addictive gameplay that can leave entire families in financial distress, the government noted.
Over the past 11 years, digital technologies have transformed daily life. Digital India, digital public infrastructure, the UPI payment system, 5G connectivity, and the semiconductor ecosystem have collectively given a new identity to the country. However, these advances have also brought new risks, particularly in the digital space.
Highlighting the need to safeguard against technology misuse, the government stated, “It is therefore equally important to ensure that society is protected from potential harms of technology misuse. With this thought process, the Government has brought forward the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025,” as cited by ANI.
The government further believes that banning online money gaming can prevent harms such as addiction, financial losses, and even extreme consequences including suicides.
Additionally, the bill aims to curb data breaches through these apps, which are often misused for financial fraud, money laundering, terror financing, and messaging activities that threaten national security.
For online social games, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) will support games that promote educational and cultural values, skill development, and social engagement.
(With inputs from ANI)
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