New Delhi, August 20, 2025:
The Online Gaming (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, a day after receiving approval from the Union Cabinet. The bill aims to balance innovation in digital gaming with citizen safety, as India’s digital ecosystem rapidly expands.
Minister Vaishnaw stated that the proposed legislation is designed to promote responsible digital innovation while safeguarding users, particularly the youth, from the adverse impacts of unregulated online money gaming.
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), while digital technologies have brought vast benefits, they have also introduced new risks. The bill is intended to prevent technological misuse that could harm society, especially through financial exploitation, addiction, and exposure to illegal activities.
Key Features of the Bill
Promotion of E-Sports and Social Gaming:
The bill encourages the growth of e-sports and online social games that foster education, cultural values, skill development, and social engagement.
Ban on Harmful Online Money Gaming:
The legislation prohibits online betting and gambling activities, including fantasy sports, poker, rummy, online lotteries, and other real-money games that can cause financial harm, addiction, or mental health issues.
Protection Against Exploitative Practices:
Many real-money gaming apps lure users—especially youth—into addictive gameplay with deceptive promises of cashbacks and winnings, often pushing entire families into financial distress. The bill seeks to curb these predatory practices.
National Security Concerns:
The government has expressed concern that online money gaming platforms are sometimes misused for financial fraud, money laundering, and even terror financing. Some platforms are also used for encrypted communication that may pose national security threats.
Legal Alignment with Physical World Regulations:
The bill aligns digital regulations with offline laws under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and state-level laws where betting and gambling are prohibited or punishable.
Institutional Framework and Regulation
A dedicated framework for e-sports will be established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) will support the development and regulation of educational and culturally beneficial online games.
The bill represents one of the most comprehensive attempts yet to regulate India’s booming online gaming industry, striking a balance between digital innovation, youth welfare, and national security.