New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Union of India, seeking its response to a petition filed by an NGO demanding a nationwide ban on online gambling and betting platforms allegedly operating under the guise of social and e-sports games.
A bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan directed that the petition be tagged with a batch of ongoing cases challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (Online Gaming Act).
According to the NGO, there are currently around 2,000 apps facilitating online betting and gambling in India. The petition highlights the adverse impact on youth and seeks urgent government action in the larger public interest. “Issue notice. Let an appropriate reply be filed to the petition,” the Court ordered.
Key Demands in the Petition
The writ petition requests the Union Government to:
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Harmoniously interpret the Online Gaming Act, 2025 and existing State laws to prohibit online betting and gambling platforms posing as social or e-sports games.
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Issue blocking orders under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, against unlawful gaming platforms.
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Direct the RBI, NPCI, and other UPI platforms to restrict transactions linked to unregistered online money games.
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Enforce stringent provisions akin to the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gaming Act, 2022, and consider applying laws such as the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 to curb illegal betting.
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Ensure Google and Apple comply with the Information Technology (Intermediary) Rules, 2021, permitting only licensed gaming apps on their platforms.
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Facilitate recovery of GST and income tax from offshore gaming companies through agencies such as the ED, CBI, with Interpol’s assistance.
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Protect the data of children collected by online gaming companies.
Government’s Stand
Advocate VC Bharathi, representing the Union of India, submitted that the petition’s reliefs are already addressed in the new legislation, which is yet to come into force.
The Online Gaming Act, 2025, passed by Parliament on August 21 and receiving Presidential assent on August 22, has faced challenges on the grounds that it imposes a blanket ban on games of skill, including e-sports, allegedly violating Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to practice any profession or carry on any occupation, trade, or business.
The Court has now tagged the petition with other ongoing challenges to the Online Gaming Act and awaited the Union’s response.
The development underscores the increasing scrutiny of online gaming regulations in India, as concerns grow over the social and financial impact of gambling disguised as gaming platforms.
