Gaming Bill 2025 Passed, Industry in Crisis

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a day after its clearance in the Lok Sabha, cementing a nationwide ban on all real-money online games.
 
Presenting the bill, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described online money gaming as “a bigger issue than drugs,” citing exposure to 45 crore Indians and estimated ₹20,000 crore annual losses among middle-income families.
 
The Minister highlighted addiction, financial distress, money laundering, and even links to terrorism as urgent threats.
 
 
The legislation prohibits all games involving monetary stakes, including fantasy sports, poker, betting apps, and opinion trading platforms. 
 
 
It directs banks, NBFCs, UPI services, wallets, and even celebrity endorsers to sever ties with such operators.
 
 
Violations will be cognizable and non-bailable, attracting up to three years in prison and ₹1 crore fines, with liability extending to directors and promoters.

 
The ban strikes at the core of India’s gaming economy, where 85% of FY24 revenues came from real-money gaming. 
 
Platforms like Dream11, MPL, Games24x7, and Probo now face shutdowns, while Nazara Technologies’ shares have already plunged over 20%.
 
 
Industry groups warn the blanket ban could wipe out tax revenues, jobs, and innovation, potentially driving players toward unregulated offshore platforms—undermining the government’s own regulatory objectives.