New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to ban the operating, facilitating and advertising of online games played with money, to check rising instances of addiction, money laundering and financial fraud.
Piloted by Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed without a debate as Opposition members raised slogans demanding a discussion on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission.
Once the legislation is passed by both Houses of Parliament, offering or facilitating online money gaming will be punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years and/or a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.
The draft legislation also seeks to prohibit advertisements related to online money games as well as bars banks and financial institutions from facilitating or transferring funds for any of such games.
The bill outlaws all online betting and gambling activities — from online fantasy sports to online gambling (like Poker, Rummy and other Card games) and online lotteries, according to PTI. The move is set to give a blow to the country’s $3.8 billion gaming industry that has drawn the attention of global investors and fostered fantasy sports apps like Dream11, Games24X7 and Mobile Premier League.
The bill makes online money gaming a punishable offence, which includes an imprisonment of up to three years and/or a fine of up to ₹1 crore. It also includes a provision where repeated offences could attract 3-5 years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹2 crore.
The proposed legislation also recommends a regulator for e-sports, educational platforms, and social games.
