President Murmu Assents to Online Gaming Act, 2025 and Money Games Banned.
National
On August 22, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu granted her assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which had been swiftly passed by both Houses of Parliament just the day before. The Act aims to prohibit real-money online games while promoting e-sports and social gaming under regulatory oversight.
- In a landmark move, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 marks India’s decisive step to curb the harms associated with unregulated online money gaming. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025, and remarkably passed the Rajya Sabha the very next day — reflecting a fast-tracked legislative push.
- At the heart of the Act lies the unequivocal ban on online money games—platforms where users stake money, credits, or tokens for potential monetary gain, regardless of whether outcomes are based on skill or chance. Advertising, financial facilitation, or promotion of such games is also outlawed.
- Crucially, the new law does not penalize players; rather, accountability is placed firmly on service providers, advertisers, and financial facilitators who support such gaming platforms. Non-compliance carries penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment and ₹1 crore in fines, with advertising crimes attracting up to two years and ₹50 lakh, and repeat offences leading to up to five years and ₹2 crore in fines.
Main Point :- (i) To ensure robust enforcement and future governance, the Act enables the central government to constitute an Online Gaming Authority (or vest these powers in an existing body). This authority will have powers to classify games, manage registration of permissible “e-sports” or “online social games,” and usher in regulatory oversight.
(ii) With the President’s assent formalizing the Bill as an Act, relevant rules and enforcement mechanisms are now being drafted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The MeitY Secretary, S. Krishnan, has confirmed that the law will take effect following official notification, and parts of it may come into force prior to rule-making where possible.
(iii) Finally, this legislation reflects a dual approach: shielding citizens—particularly youth and families—from financial distress and exploitation while fostering a regulated environment for e-sports and social gaming. This is expected to bolster jobs, innovation, and India’s standing in the digital creative economy.
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