New Delhi | August 21, 2025

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed in Parliament this week, sparking massive protests from the Opposition who alleged that the government pushed the law without allowing a proper debate. The legislation, which seeks to curb online money gaming and betting, was cleared by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, a day after it sailed through the Lok Sabha.

The bill makes operating, facilitating, or even advertising online money-based games a punishable offence. Convicted offenders could face imprisonment of up to three years and fines of up to ₹1 crore. The law also extends penalties to those enabling financial transactions for such platforms, barring banks and payment institutions from processing related payments. Repeat violations could invite harsher punishment, including jail terms up to five years and fines up to ₹2 crore.

Tabling the bill, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw compared online money-gaming addiction to drug abuse, warning of its severe societal consequences. “We have seen how these platforms not only ruin families but also channel money into unlawful activities. The masterminds behind them will challenge the government in courts and use social media campaigns, but we cannot ignore the damage being done,” he said.

The government emphasized that the move targets betting and gambling games, including poker, rummy, fantasy sports, lotteries, and other online satta activities. It also prohibits advertisements of money-based games, with violators facing two years’ imprisonment or fines up to ₹50 lakh.

The Opposition, however, strongly objected to the passage of the bill without debate. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of bypassing parliamentary procedures. “Important issues, including this bill and the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, were bulldozed without giving members an opportunity to present their views,” he said.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju countered, arguing that Opposition members themselves disrupted proceedings with constant protests, leaving little scope for meaningful discussion.

Despite the uproar, the government maintained that urgent intervention was needed to tackle the growing menace of online gambling. Officials cited cases of young users losing large sums of money, families falling into debt, and links between money-gaming platforms and illegal financial networks.

With the bill now cleared, enforcement will be a key test. While the law bans online money-gaming, concerns remain about its implementation in the face of powerful gaming companies likely to mount legal challenges. Analysts also note that distinguishing between recreational online games and money-gaming platforms could pose regulatory hurdles.

For now, the government has declared its intent to clamp down on what it calls a social and financial “epidemic.” The Opposition, meanwhile, has vowed to continue pressing for a full parliamentary debate on the bill and its broader implications for India’s growing digital economy.
Parliament Passes Online Gaming Bill, Bans Money-Based Games Amid Opposition Protests

Parliament has cleared the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, banning all money-based online games, including fantasy sports, poker, rummy, and online lotteries. Passed by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha a day after Lok Sabha approval, the bill makes operating, facilitating, or advertising such games punishable with up to three years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 crore, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called online money gaming “like drug addiction” and highlighted its social impact. Opposition leaders protested, criticizing the lack of debate, while the government emphasized urgent action to curb rising online gambling and financial risks.