Key Moments:
- India’s Supreme Court has begun reviewing a public interest litigation seeking a ban on online gambling platforms operating as social or esports games.
- The petition references the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, and addresses recent regulatory developments and market size concerns.
- App distributors such as Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt Ltd have been named as respondents in the case.
Legal Challenge Targets Online Gambling Under Disguise
The Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) has brought a public interest litigation before India’s Supreme Court, calling for actions against online gambling platforms that allegedly present themselves as social or esports games. The legal action seeks judicial guidelines aimed at prohibiting these platforms, which are believed to operate out of compliance with the present legal framework.
Request for Coordinated Interpretation of Laws
The litigation urges the Supreme Court to instruct relevant ministries to create a harmonized interpretation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, together with corresponding state laws. The PIL claims that this would help eliminate ambiguity and allow authorities to act decisively against deceptive gaming websites.
Major App Platform Operators Included in Proceedings
Recognizing the significant distribution role of app stores, the suit has named Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt Ltd as respondents. This highlights the reach and influence that these technology giants possess in distributing gaming apps across India’s large population of mobile users.
Impact of Recent Legislation
This courtroom development comes in response to the enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 by the Indian Parliament. This legislation bans online gaming for money, covering even skill-based activities like fantasy sports and poker. The swift adoption of the bill has taken many stakeholders by surprise, sparking ongoing debate about regulating online gambling activities.
Societal Risks and Economic Magnitude
CASC underscores the urgent need for enforcement, pointing to more than 650 million individuals engaging in online games within India. The annual market, according to the report, is worth INR 1.8 lakh crores (approximately US$20.5 billion). The PIL claims that around half of the country’s population is involved in three-dimensional online gaming and warns of significant social, economic, and national security risks.
| Key Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated online gamers in India | 650 million+ |
| Annual market value | INR 1.8 lakh crores (approx. US$20.5 billion) |
Calls for Stronger Enforcement and Consumer Protection
The PIL seeks authorization for regulatory authorities to block unauthorized betting sites and associated applications. Petitioners also advocate for mechanisms to block financial flows to unlicensed gambling platforms and promote tax collection and probes into the operations of such companies. They anticipate that once approved, these measures will increase regulators’ capacity to address unauthorized gambling and enhance consumer safeguards.
- Author
Daniel Williams
