The Online Gaming Bill of 2025, officially titled the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, has indeed been passed by both Houses of India's Parliament. The Lok Sabha approved it on August 20, 2025, and the Rajya Sabha followed suit on August 21, 2025 .
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Key Highlights of the Bill
1. Nationwide Ban on Money-Based Online Games
The bill imposes a blanket ban on all online games involving monetary stakes — whether they are skill-based like poker or chance-based like lotteries .
It prohibits not just the games themselves, but also their advertisements, and financial transactions facilitating them .
2. Penalties and Legal Consequences
Offenders—individuals or companies—face up to 3 years imprisonment and/or a fine up to ₹1 crore for offering or facilitating online money gaming .
Advertising violations: punishable by up to 2 years in jail and/or a ₹50 lakh fine .
Repeat offences attract escalated penalties: 3–5 years imprisonment and fines up to ₹2 crore .
3. Promotion of Esports, Social & Educational Gaming
The bill explicitly encourages the development of e-sports, recognizing it as a legitimate competitive sport. It also supports social and educational games, promoting them as safer and skill-based alternatives to money-driven games .
An Online Gaming Authority (or National Online Gaming Commission — NOGC) will be established to oversee categorization, licensing, regulation, and grievance redressal in the sector .
4. Expanding Powers and Regulatory Structure
The law grants enforcement agencies enhanced powers, including warrantless search and seizure, especially in cases involving banned content or suspicious operations .
It mandates compliance with consumer protection norms, responsible use frameworks, and data safeguards, while providing for structural oversight via NOGC, licensing, and even an appellate tribunal .
5. Impacts on Industry and Economy
The passage of the bill sent shockwaves through the fantasy gaming industry. Companies like Dream11, MPL, Zupee, and Games24x7 could face major shutdowns and losses in revenue and investment .
Stock markets reacted sharply — for instance, Nazara Tech shares dropped by 10–11%, and Delta Corp shares also declined .
Concerns were raised about job losses, disruptions in sports sponsorships (especially cricket-related fantasy platforms), and a broader economic hit to this booming sector projected at ~$3.6 billion by 2029 .
6. Next Step: Presidential Assent
With parliamentary approval complete, the bill now awaits the President’s signature, a formality expected to convert it into law .
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Summary Table
Aspect Details
Passed On Lok Sabha: Aug 20, 2025; Rajya Sabha: Aug 21, 2025
Main Measures Ban on real-money games, ads, and payments; promote esports & social games
Penalties Up to 3 yrs jail / ₹1 cr fine; advertising: 2 yrs / ₹50 lakh; repeat: up to 5 yrs / ₹2 cr
Authority National Online Gaming Commission (NOGC) to regulate & license platforms
Wider Powers Warrantless searches, enforcement, appeals tribunal
Impact Major losses for fantasy gaming firms, industry upheaval, job concerns, market dip
Current Status Awaiting President’s assent to become law
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Let me know if you’d like to explore how this will affect specific gaming platforms, upcoming esports policies, or the legal challenges the industry plans to pursue.
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