Parliament Clears Bill Banning Money Games Online
Rajya Sabha clears Ashwini Vaishnaw’s bill amid din; ads, fund transfers for money games barred
New Delhi: Parliament on Thursday passed ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025’ to ban real money online games, citing instances of gambling addiction, money laundering and financial frauds. After passing it in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the Rajya Sabha also approved it without debate amid din.
The bill, spearheaded by minister of electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, essentially bans online-gaming apps that require users to pay money to win cash, while promoting e-sports and online social gaming. Now, the bill needs the President’s signature to become a law in the country.
The bill also seeks to prohibit advertisements related to online money games and bar banks and financial institutions from facilitating or transferring funds for any of such games. Online money games are played by depositing money in expectation of winning monetary and other rewards.
