India's Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 received presidential assent on 22 August 2025, a day after Parliament completed its passage on 21 August. The India online gaming law imposes a complete ban on online money games, whether based on skill, chance or both, while recognising e-sports and promoting online social and educational games, according to a government explainer published by the Press Information Bureau.
Corporate INTL Newsroom · Sports & Entertainment
India Online Gaming Law Bans Online Money Games and Recognises E-Sports
By The Corporate INTL Newsroom · 25 August 2025
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister for Electronics and Information Technology cited an estimate that 45 crore people are negatively affected by online money games, with losses of more than Rs 20,000 crore. The Prime Minister welcomed the Bill's passage, saying it would boost e-sports and safeguard society.
What the law prohibits
The Act prohibits offering, operating or facilitating online money games, advertising or promoting them, and processing related financial transactions through banks or payment systems. It applies across India and to online money gaming services offered in India or operated from outside the country. Authorities can block access to unlawful platforms under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Offering or facilitating online money games can lead to imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to one crore rupees. Advertising them can attract up to two years and a fine of up to fifty lakh rupees. Repeat offenders face up to five years and fines of up to two crore rupees, and offences under key provisions are cognisable and non-bailable. Companies and their officers can be held liable, although independent and non-executive directors who acted with due diligence are protected.
E-sports and the new authority
E-sports are recognised as a legitimate competitive sport, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will prepare guidelines and standards for tournaments. A national Online Gaming Authority will be established, or an existing body designated, to categorise and register games, decide whether a game is a money game and address grievances.
Who is affected
Real-money gaming platforms, including fantasy money game operators, payment providers, advertisers and investors in the sector will need to review their exposure to the India online gaming law, including offshore operators serving Indian users. The Central Government has rule-making powers covering e-sports, social games, game registration and the authority's functions, so the detailed rules will determine how the framework operates in practice.
Sources
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