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Informist, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday issued a notice to the Centre on a public interest litigation by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change seeking directions to ban online gambling and betting platforms that allegedly operate under the guise of social and esports games. The apex court tagged the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change's plea with several petitions filed against the Centre's "complete ban" on online money gaming in India. The top court will hear the case on Tuesday.

 

The Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change, a think tank, sought that the government do "a harmonious interpretation of provisions of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, and laws made by state legislatures, to prohibit online gambling and betting games operating in the guise of social and esports games." The petitioner sought orders to the Reserve Bank of India, National Payments Corp. of India, and Unified Payment Interface platforms to disallow any monetary transactions involving unregistered gaming applications.

 

In September, the apex court had transferred to itself multiple petitions filed in the Karnataka High Court, Madhya Pradesh High Court, and Delhi High Court against The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. The 2025 Act, imposing a complete ban on online money games, applies to games of chance, games of skill, and those that combine both. The Act prohibits advertising and promotion of such games and financial transactions related to these platforms cannot be processed by banks or payment systems. The authorities will also be empowered to block access to unlawful platforms under the Information Technology Act, 2000.

 

Under the Act, strict punishments have been introduced, such as offering or facilitating online money games could lead to imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to INR 10 million. Further, financial transactions linked to these games are also punishable with similar penalties. Advertising such games can attract a jail term of up to two years and a fine of up to INR 5 million under the Act. Repeat offenders face harsher punishments, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to INR 20 million. Offences under key provisions will be cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can arrest without a warrant and bail is not a right.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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