India’s parliament has approved a landmark bill banning all forms of online games involving money, in a move aimed at curbing addiction and financial exploitation linked to digital gambling.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, passed by the lower house on Wednesday and endorsed by the upper house on Thursday, outlaws online money gaming services, related advertisements, and financial transactions that enable such activities.
The legislation empowers regulators to bar banks and financial institutions from facilitating deposits or transfers linked to online betting platforms. It further prescribes penalties of up to three years in prison and fines reaching 10 million Indian rupees (about $114,600) for offenders.
Explaining the rationale behind the law, India’s Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, likened the addiction to money-based gaming to substance abuse, warning that the powerful interests driving the industry would likely challenge the decision in court and on social media.
Analysts note that millions of Indians have been drawn into these platforms, lured by promises of quick returns, only to suffer financial losses and, in many cases, addiction. The ban is expected to reshape the country’s fast-growing online gaming industry while sparking debates about digital freedom, regulation, and the economic implications of shutting down a multi-billion-dollar market.