Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, has been passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, signifying a major legislative shift in India’s approach to online gaming. The bill, piloted by Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, aims to ban all forms of real-money gaming while promoting e-sports and casual games.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The legislation makes a clear distinction between different types of online games:

• Online Money Games: The bill imposes a complete prohibition on any game where a user pays fees or deposits money with the expectation of a monetary return. This includes games of skill or chance, such as fantasy sports, poker, and rummy.
• E-sports and Online Social Games: These are explicitly promoted by the bill. E-sports are recognized as a legitimate competitive sport, and the government will support their growth through guidelines, training academies, and research centers. Social games, which are played for recreation or skill development without monetary stakes, are also encouraged.

Penalties and Enforcement

The bill prescribes stringent penalties for violations to combat addiction, financial fraud, and money laundering:

• Operators: Offering or facilitating online money gaming is a punishable offense, with penalties including imprisonment of up to three years and/or a fine of up to ₹1 crore.
• Advertisers: Anyone who publishes or causes advertisements for such games can face up to two years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.
• Financial Institutions: Banks and financial institutions that facilitate fund transfers for online money games can also face up to three years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to ₹1 crore.

The bill also proposes the creation of a central authority with powers to categorize games, handle complaints, and determine whether a particular game qualifies as an “online money game.” Notably, the law focuses punitive measures on the promoters and facilitators of illegal platforms, not on the individual players, whom it views as victims.