India’s central government to introduce bill to ban real-money online games
The draft bill proposes potential penalties of up to three years in jail.
India.- The central government is to consider India’s first national law on real-money online gaming. The Union Cabinet has cleared the Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, and it is expected to be introduced in Parliament shortly.
According to Reuters, the 13-page Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 drafted by India’s IT ministry will ban real money play in online games, imposing penalties of up to three years in jail and fines. The bill defines an online money game as any digital game that involves the deposit of money or stakes with the expectation of winning money or rewards. It excludes eSports and social games.
The proposed legislation seeks to address public concerns over gambling addiction, fraud and inconsistent regulation across Indian states.
Last month, in a response to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, Jitin Prasada, minister of State for Electronics & IT, said that the Indian government had issued 1,524 blocking directions related to online betting, gambling and gaming websites and mobile applications between 2022 and June 2025.
Meanwhile, India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned senior executives from tech giants Google and Meta to appear for questioning on July 21 as part of a major investigation into illegal online betting and money laundering. The probe has already implicated celebrities, influencers and political figures.
