Parliament clears Online Gaming Bill after Rajya Sabha nod, legislation seeks complete ban on online money games
PTC News Desk: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 was passed in Rajya Sabha without a debate amid din. The Rajya Sabha approved it after rejecting Opposition amendments, a day after its passage in the Lok Sabha.
Tabling the bill in the Upper House, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said: " The money-gaming addiction is like drug addiction. The powerful people behind online money games will challenge the decision in courts. They will run social media campaigns against this ban. We have seen the impact of games and how the money is used to support terror."
The bill aims at banning all forms of online money games while encouraging eSports and social gaming.
The legislation prohibits online betting and gambling activities—including fantasy sports, poker, rummy, other card games, and online lotteries—while also banning advertisements for such games. It further bars banks and financial institutions from facilitating or transferring funds linked to these platforms.
Under the bill, advertising money games can lead to up to two years in jail and/or fines of up to ₹50 lakh, while enabling related financial transactions can result in up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to ₹1 crore. Repeat offences carry harsher penalties, with jail terms of three to five years and fines of up to ₹2 crore.
Key offences under the proposed law are designated as cognizable and non-bailable.
- With inputs from agencies
