India’s Bihar state proposes bill to criminalise online gambling
The Gambling Prohibition Bill would introduce prison terms of up to seven years for repeat offenders.
India.- The state of Bihar has introduced a bill that would explicitly ban all forms of gambling, including online and mobile-based. The proposed Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Bill, 2026, would replace the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and would make online gambling and betting criminal offences under one of the strictest state-level anti-gambling laws in India.
The legislation follows a request from India’s Union Home Ministry for states to modernise their gambling laws in response to the growth of digital gambling. Under the bill, first-time offenders could face between one and three years in prison and fines ranging from INR50,000 to INR500,000 (US$580 to US$5,800). Repeat offenders could receive prison sentences of between two and seven years and fines of INR100,000 to INR1m (US$1,160 to US$11,600). Penalties would be lower for land-based gambling offences,
The proposal also widens liability beyond bettors and operators. Individuals who allow their bank accounts or digital wallets to be used for gambling transactions could face prosecution, while companies involved in gambling activities, their executives and those promoting or advertising gambling services could also be held legally accountable.
