New Delhi, 21 August (Kiran News). The Rajya Sabha passed the bill related to the ban on online “money games” on Friday without any discussion. The Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill, 2025, had already been passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday. With this, the bill has now received Parliament’s approval. While the bill promotes e-sports and social games, it prohibits betting and gambling activities known as “money games.”
Speaking about the bill in the Rajya Sabha, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that social evils arise from time to time, and it is the responsibility of the government and Parliament to eliminate them. He stated that money games have become a serious issue like drugs, and the government is banning them through law. He also called upon society, the media, and the opposition to help young people overcome this addiction.
Vaishnaw expressed concern about the negative aspects of online gaming and said that the Modi government values social welfare over revenue. For this reason, the bill bans “money games.” According to estimates, 45 crore people in the country have lost ₹20,000 crore in such games. The WHO has also recognised this as a disorder.
The Union Minister cited several media reports and said that powerful people are behind online money games. He mentioned that there will be challenges in court and campaigns via media and social media. He added, “Whenever it comes to the interests of the middle class and youth, Modiji has always prioritised them over revenue and the economy.”
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill gives legal status to e-sports as a legitimate sport. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will set guidelines for it. Training centres, research institutes, and technology platforms will be established. There will also be incentive schemes and awareness campaigns to integrate e-sports into the national sports policy.
The bill gives the central government the power to recognise, classify, and register social and educational games. Safe platforms will be created for the development and spread of these games, linking them to cultural and educational values, skill development, and digital literacy.
The bill provides for a complete ban on online money games, including all types of skill-based, luck-based, or mixed money games. The promotion, advertising, and financial transactions related to such games have been declared illegal. Banks and payment systems have also been instructed to block transactions related to them.
Once the bill becomes law, the central government will set up a National Online Gaming Authority. This authority will register, classify, and resolve complaints about games, and decide whether a game falls under the “money game” category. The authority will also issue guidelines and codes of conduct.
The bill clearly mentions crimes and penalties. Offering online money gaming can result in imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of up to ₹1 crore. Advertising such games can result in two years in jail and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh. Repeat offenders will face even stricter penalties.
The bill also gives the government investigative and enforcement powers. Authorised officers can seize digital or physical property related to the crime and can make arrests without a warrant in serious cases.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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