The Centre will table the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, aiming to set up a clear regulatory framework for the country’s rapidly growing online gaming industry. The Bill will be introduced by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal on Tuesday. The Bill promotes e-sports, educational and social gaming, while strictly banning online money games and making online betting a punishable offence.
Key provisions of the Bill
The draft legislation seeks to establish a dedicated authority to oversee the sector, provide policy support, and ensure responsible growth. Its main provisions include:
- A complete ban on online money games, including their operation, promotion, advertising and facilitation, especially those run across states or from abroad.
- Protection of users, particularly youth and vulnerable groups, from social, financial, psychological and privacy-related harms linked to online gaming.
- Promotion of responsible digital usage, ensuring safety, financial integrity, public order, national security and public health.
- A national-level legal framework to bring consistency across states and address cross-border challenges.
Why it matters
The move comes amid rising concerns over gaming addiction, financial fraud, and misuse of data, particularly among younger players. While the Bill seeks to encourage the growth of e-sports and educational games, it also aims to clearly separate recreational gaming from gambling-style activities.
If passed, this will be India’s first centralised law to regulate online gaming nationwide, balancing industry development with consumer protection and national security interests.
The step also follows a series of recent fraud cases and growing scrutiny on celebrities promoting online money gaming platforms.
