The Union Cabinet of India has approved a new bill to regulate online gaming in the country. The proposed legislation introduces compliance requirements for operators, penalties for violations and punishments for online betting activities. Once tabled in Parliament of India, the law is expected to reshape the functioning of real-money and betting-linked gaming platforms in the country. The bill is expected to be introduced in House of the People (Lok Sabha) during the ongoing session.
Cabinet approval for new gaming bill
The new bill seeks to introduce a framework for online gaming with clear provisions for compliance, penalties and enforcement, according to a report by CNN News18. While the detailed clauses are yet to be released, the legislation is expected to bring stricter reporting and operational requirements for companies offering real-money games and betting-linked services.
This follows a series of measures taken by the government in recent years to curb illegal betting platforms. In 2024, more than 1,000 websites offering gambling and betting services were blocked. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) carried out the exercise in coordination with state authorities and cybercrime agencies.
Statement from IT Minister
On 19 March, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, addressed the Lok Sabha on the subject of illegal gambling platforms. He confirmed that the union government has been working closely with states to address the challenge.
“Whenever any instances of violations come to the notice of the central government, action is taken within the Constitutional framework,” Vaishnaw said. He added that 1,097 websites had been blocked in 2024 alone, marking a significant step in tackling unregulated platforms.
According to the minister, the joint efforts of central agencies and state governments have led to measurable improvement in enforcement against illegal online betting.
States push for Union Law
Several Indian states have called for a nationwide law to regulate or ban online money gaming. In Uttar Pradesh, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s Surajya Abhiyan campaign recently met Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak in Lucknow.
During the meeting, campaign representatives highlighted the social and financial risks of unregulated online gaming apps. They shared data showing the rapid growth of the sector and its impact on households across the country.
#Law_Against_Digital_Jua@SurajyaCampaign demands nationwide legislation to control online gambling
— Vishwanath Kulkarni (@vishwanathkul) August 10, 2025
Will send a proposal to the Union Govt to ban online gambling : @brajeshpathakup pic.twitter.com/5lM86xqu3R
Deputy Chief Minister Pathak assured the delegation that Uttar Pradesh will introduce a resolution in the next Assembly session. Under Article 252 of the Constitution, the state will request Parliament to legislate for a national ban on online gambling and money gaming platforms. Once passed, the resolution will be forwarded to the union government.
Celebrities under scanner
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), a law enforcement agency of the Government of India is also examining the role of celebrity endorsements in promoting online betting platforms under investigation. In July, veteran actor Prakash Raj appeared before the ED in Hyderabad in connection with the case.
The ED is investigating whether celebrities were aware that certain gaming platforms were allegedly running illegal betting operations under the guise of online games. The probe is being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Actors Rana Daggubati, Vijay Deverakonda and actress Lakshmi Manchu have also been summoned to appear before the agency. The inquiry focuses on whether endorsements of platforms such as Junglee Rummy, JeetWin and Lotus365 helped them gain public trust while allegedly conducting unlawful business activities.
