The Union Cabinet on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) approved the online gaming promotion and regulation bill. It provides for imprisonment or fine for those who present or advertise on online gaming related to money or its advertisements, a source gave this information. In this, such games have been separated from e-sports or online social games, which is expected to be introduced in Parliament on Wednesday (August 20, 2025).
The source said that the Bill calls for promoting e-sports and online social games. It admits that formal recognition of e-sports will enable India to join India in the global competitive gaming scenario, promote innovation, create opportunities for Indian startup environment and create a global superpower for sports development.
Action on those who violate rules
The Bill proposes that anyone who provides online money gaming service by violating the prescribed provisions can be imprisoned for up to three years or a fine of up to Rs 1 crore or both. There is also a provision of imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh or both for those who advertise by violating the rules.
Apart from this, people involved in any kind of transaction can be imprisoned up to three years or a fine of up to Rs 1 crore or both. Repeated crimes for violations related to online money gaming can cause rigorous imprisonment (3-5 years) as well as fines.
Increasing concerns with online game addiction
The source said that however, to avoid any harassment, no person playing online game is made criminal. Thinking behind this is to be considered as victims instead of crime. Also, this bill tightens people who promote it. It bans the processing or transfer of funds related to actual money online game to banks and financial institutions.
Sources said that the purpose of this bill is to regulate online gaming by promoting online social games and e-sports. Also, online gaming related to money in public interest is to be banned. He said that there has been a rapid growth in the gaming scenario in India, yet the regulatory environment still remains unclear. Also, concerns are increasing about the nature of online game addiction, especially monetary incentives and effects on mental health.
Online money gaming such as serious consequences like suicide
Apart from this, there have been many cases of financial loss to individuals due to online game related to money. This has resulted in serious consequences like depression and even suicide. Online money gaming has also been used to promote money laundering and other illegal activities.
The bill on the one hand tries to promote and regulate e-Sports and online social games (eg, candy crush), on the other hand, on the other hand it clearly banned online money gaming in India. The cabinet approved the bill on Tuesday and it is expected to be introduced in Parliament on Wednesday.
Proposal to constitute a statutory regulatory authority
The bill proposes to set up a statutory regulatory authority for monitoring and accountability. It also calls for registration and compliance system for online gaming forum. The Regulatory Authority will have the right to determine after a proper investigation whether a special online game is online money game or not.
Also read:- ‘Support Telugu’s son’, former Justice Sudarshan Reddy made VP candidate VP candidate, while CM Revanth Reddy appealed to KCR, Naidu and Pawan Kalyan