New Delhi | August 21, 2025 – The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, finalizing its passage just a day after approval by the Lok Sabha.
What the Bill Covers
- Ban on real-money gaming: Platforms involving monetary stakes—whether skill-based or chance are now prohibited.
- Strict penalties: Violators face up to 3 years in prison, with fines reaching ₹1 crore; advertising money games also attracts legal consequences.
- New regulation model: A National e-Sports Authority will oversee licensing, regulatory compliance, and growth of e-sports, social, and educational gaming.
Government’s Perspective
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the social costs of online money gaming, calling it a problem even worse than drug abuse. He said several young lives have been lost, and the bill will protect families and bolster legitimate gaming sectors like e-sports.
Secretary S. Krishnan (MeitY) added that the real issue isn’t e-sports, but real-money games. He reaffirmed the government’s intent to shape India into a global gaming innovation hub while safeguarding users.
This legislation establishes India’s first national-level legal framework for online gaming. It formally bans money-based gaming and endorses the development of e-sports and non-monetized game formats with a compliance structure for a sector that has historically operated in legal grey areas.
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