New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a detailed response from the Center on petitions challenging an online gaming law that bans online money games and restricts banking services and advertising related to them.
The matter came before a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Vishwanathan. The bench was informed that the Center had filed its response to the interim prayer in the petitions. However, the bench said it wanted the Additional Solicitor General, representing the Center, to file a detailed response to the main petition itself.
The bench said that the lawyers representing the petitioners should be given a copy of the response in advance, and if they wish to file a response, they can do so as soon as possible. The matter will now be heard on November 26th. The Supreme Court was hearing the transferred petitions challenging the online gaming law.
During the hearing, senior advocate CA Sundaram, representing one of the parties in the case, argued before the bench that the business has been completely shut down for more than a month. Another lawyer informed the bench that a new writ petition had been filed in the case, but it had not been listed for hearing.
The lawyer stated that his client is a chess player and is about to launch an app, and emphasized that this is his source of livelihood. The bench noted that India is a unique country and the petitioner is a player, and this is his only source of income, so the petitioner wishes to be included in the proceedings. The bench was informed that the petitioner participates in online tournaments organized by companies and also pays participation fees. The bench attached the pending petitions.
On Monday, the apex court had sought the central government’s response to a petition filed by the Center for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) and Shaurya Tiwari. The petitioners argue that the Act imposes a blanket ban on even judicially recognized skill-based games, violating Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to practice any profession or carry on any lawful business.
On September 8, the Supreme Court accepted the central government’s plea seeking the transfer of petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, from three high courts to the Supreme Court to avoid conflicting decisions.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, is the first central law to ban real-money online gaming, including fantasy sports and e-sports. It has been challenged in the Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts.
