Key Moments:
- The Supreme Court of India has set October 7, 2025, to address petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
- The law bans all online games involving monetary stakes. Consequently, it affects fantasy sports, online rummy, poker, and other real money gaming platforms.
- Cases previously filed in Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts have been transferred to the Supreme Court for consolidated adjudication.
Supreme Court to Examine Legality of Gaming Ban
The Supreme Court of India will hear several petitions on October 7, 2025. These petitions challenge the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. The case will be overseen by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Vishwanathan. The law in question prohibits both skill-based and chance-based online games if they are played for monetary stakes, resulting in the suspension of major real money gaming services.
🚨 | Supreme Court allows Centre’s petition seeking transfer of the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, pending before different High Courts.
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) September 8, 2025
Industry’s Call for Swift Judicial Intervention
During a brief session on Friday, lawyers for online gaming companies asked the court to prioritize their cases. They argued the matter was urgent. Counsel highlighted that Justice Pardiwala had previously authorized the transfer of related petitions from different High Courts to the Supreme Court. They emphasized the urgent nature of the situation, stating, “Our businesses have been shut down. Our petition was before the Karnataka High Court, which has been transferred here at the instance of the Centre. Please list it urgently.”
Major Industry Petitioners
| Company | Associated Platform/Federation | Original High Court |
|---|---|---|
| Head Digital Works | A23 (real money gaming) | Karnataka High Court |
| Bagheera Carrom (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. | E-Gaming Federation | Delhi High Court |
| Clubboom 11 Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. | Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports | Madhya Pradesh High Court |
Centralization of Legal Proceedings
Authorities at the Center advocated for moving all legal challenges against the online gaming law to the Supreme Court, arguing that a centralized venue would prevent conflicting rulings. The bench agreed, ordering that digital case records from the Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts be provided to the Supreme Court within one week. Justice Pardiwala stipulated that any new legal challenges concerning the law’s validity should also be promptly transferred to the Supreme Court. The bench stated, “If there are any challenges to the validity of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, the same must not be entertained and must be transferred to the Supreme Court.”
Industry Response and Concern
Snigdhaneel Satpathy, Partner at Saraf and Partners, shared his perspective with SiGMA News, emphasizing potential disruption. “By eliminating the long-standing judicially recognised distinction between games of skill and games of chance, the Bill removes the very foundation upon which much of the RMG industry has operated and grown over the past two decades,” he said. He further warned that the strict prohibition “risks pushing both players and operators toward offshore unregulated platforms that offer neither accountability nor consumer protection.”
Government’s Standpoint
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represents the Union government, has supported the consolidation of all relevant cases. He observed that the same bench had handled similar matters previously and asserted that combined proceedings would help resolve the issue more quickly.
- Author
Daniel Williams
