Bengaluru4 minutes ago
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The President’s approval was received on the online gaming bill 2025 on 22 August.
The Karnataka High Court will hear on 30 August on the petition of the online gaming company A23. This petition challenged the new law banning online money gaming in India. This petition was immediately presented before the court by Senior Advocate C. Aryama Sundaram and Blessed Chinappa.
The President’s approval was received on the online gaming bill 2025 on 22 August. Now this has become a law. On August 21, the Rajya Sabha approved the Promotion and Regulation of online gaming bill 2025 by the Rajya Sabha and a day before that. The bill was introduced by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
A23 said- New law violation of fundamental right
A23 parent company Head Digital Works says that this law also banned games that are skill-based, such as Rumi and Poker. For the last 70 years in India, the Supreme Court and many High Courts have considered skill-based games to be different from gambling. A23 argues that:
- This law violates the fundamental right to trade.
- Law does not distinguish between skill-based and chances-based games.
- This ban will cause huge loss to the gaming industry. Millions of jobs are in danger.
- People will go to illegal offshore platforms from the ban, where there is no regulation.
What will be the impact on the industry?
After the arrival of this law, big platforms like Dream 11, Games 24 X7, Winzo, Gamescraft, and My 11 Circle have closed their money-based games. For example:
- Dream 11 announced the closure of its cash-based games on 22 August.
- Gamescraft has stopped its Rumi apps, such as Rumiculture and Gameplay Services.
- Pokering has also closed its operations.
4 strict rules in online gaming law
It has been said in this law that whether these games are a skill based or a chance based on both.
- Ban on real-mani games: It is illegal to offer, run, promote any money based game. Those who play online games will not be punished.
- Punishment and fine: If someone offers a real-meri game or promotes it, he can be imprisoned up to 3 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore. The advertisements may be fined 2 years in jail and up to Rs 50 lakh.
- Regulatory Authority: A special authority will be created, which will regulate the gaming industry, register the games and decide which game is a real-mani game.
- Promotion of e-sports: E-sports and social games like Pubji and Free Fire will be supported. These games are without money, so they will be encouraged.
Money based gaming is suffering financial loss
The government says that people are suffering mental and financial loss due to money based online gaming. Some people drowned so much in gaming addiction that they lost their lives and in some cases, reports of suicide were also revealed.
Apart from this, there are also concerns about money laundering and national security. The government wants to take strict steps to stop this.
Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said in Parliament, “Online money games are causing a big problem in the society. They are increasing drugs, the savings of families are ending.
It is estimated that around 45 crore people are affected by this and middle-class families have lost Rs 20,000 crore. ”He also said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized it as a gaming disorder.
Online gaming market was 86% Revenue from Real Money Format
The online gaming market in India is currently worth around Rs 32,000 crore. Out of this, 86% of revenue used to come from real money format. It was expected to reach around 80 thousand crore rupees by 2029. But now they have closed real money games.
The people of the industry are saying that this move of the government may put 2 lakh jobs in danger. The government may also suffer a loss of tax of about 20 thousand rupees every year.
