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Informist, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025

 

--Lok Sabha passes online gaming bill 

 

NEW DELHI – The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed without discussion a bill for the promotion and regulation of online gaming in India, amid ruckus and sloganeering by opposition members in the house.

 

Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in the Lower House of Parliament on Wednesday. There are three online gaming segments: e-sports, social games, and online money games. The bill seeks to promote the former two, and discourage the third one, which is addictive and leads to financial losses, Vaishnaw said.

 

The bill seeks to prohibit the offering, operation, facilitation, advertising, promotion and participation in online money games through any computer resource, mobile device or the internet, particularly where such activities operate across state borders or from foreign jurisdictions. The government has proposed a fine of up to INR 100 million and imprisonment of a maximum of three years for those convicted under the law once the bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha.

 

"An outright ban on real-money games, however, could push users towards unregulated markets, resulting in the loss of revenue for legitimate establishments and the government," said Kunal Gala, partner-deal value creation services at BDO India. "A structured approach that distinguishes skill-based games, e-sports, and gambling with strength-based safeguards may complement the intent of the bill enabling responsible sectoral growth while also creating the regulatory clarity that underpins investor confidence, valuation stability, and potential merger & acquisition-led consolidation as the industry matures," Gala said.  End

 

Reported by Krity Ambey

Edited by Ashish Shirke

 

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