A bill seeking to prohibit and regulate online gaming was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, amid opposition parties' protests over the electoral roll revision in Bihar.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the bill as opposition members continued to raise slogans and display placards.The central government is proposing to ban online games played with money, in a move that could deal a severe blow to an industry that has attracted billions of dollars in foreign investment.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 cites potential psychological and financial harm from such games. It states that no person “shall offer, aid, abet, induce or otherwise indulge or engage in” the offering of online money games or related services.
The bill, drafted by the IT ministry, defines an online money game as one played by depositing money with the expectation of winning monetary or other rewards. Violations could attract penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment and fines.
India’s real-money gaming market is projected to reach $3.6 billion by 2029, according to venture capital firm Lumikai. High-profile endorsements from leading cricketers and aggressive marketing have fuelled demand for apps such as Dream11 and Mobile Premier League (MPL). PitchBook data values Dream11 at $8 billion and MPL at $2.5 billion.
In Dream11’s fantasy cricket contests, for instance, users pay entry fees starting at Rs 8 rupees, competing for prize pools of up to Rs 12 lakh. The platforms see a surge in popularity during the Indian Premier League season, one of the world’s most-watched cricket tournaments.
The government has long voiced concern about the addictive nature of such games. “These games often use manipulative design features, addictive algorithms … while promoting compulsive behaviour leading to financial ruin,” the bill states.