India’s Karnataka state to draft online gaming law after expert panel report
The Karnataka government will introduce legislation after an expert committee submits its report in September.
India.- Karnataka’s home minister G. Parameshwara has said the state will pass legislation to regulate online gaming platforms amid concerns over addiction and illegal betting. He said the government will address the matter once recommendations are made by an expert committee led by senior IPS officer Pranab Mohanty next month. The committee was formed in April.
The minister said 347 legal cases related to online betting have been registered in Karnataka since 2023, including 159 in the first seven months of 2025. He criticised aggressive marketing by gaming companies, often featuring celebrities and sports stars, for attracting young people.
A previous attempt to ban online games were struck down by the Karnataka High Court in 2022 after being challenged by the All-India Gaming Federation (AIGF). While the state has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, Parameshwara said the new law would be designed to avoid such legal setbacks.
The AIGF has backed the state’s move, but warned that state laws alone may not be enough to combat offshore gambling platforms.
IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge said India’s gaming market is to grow from US$4.5bn to US$9bn in three years, with Karnataka contributing a quarter of the revenue. He said state and central governments must work together on a unified regulatory framework.
