New Delhi: President Draupadi Murmu on Friday approved the ‘Online Gaming (Promotion and Regulation) Bill 2025’, after which it has now become a law. This bill was passed in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha of Parliament this week. Under this law, all online money gaming services will be banned and there is a provision of imprisonment up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore for those providing such games.
Apart from this, the purpose of this law is to promote e-sports and social games, but there is a complete ban on online money games.
At the same time, the government says that through this it will help in preventing dangers like addiction, financial loss and suicide. Also, e-sports will now get legal recognition and a new field of sports will open for the youth.
Know what will be the changes?
Under this, now e-sports will not only get recognition as a sport. But the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will prepare a separate blueprint for it.
Earlier e-sports did not have any legal recognition, but now players will get good opportunities.
Social games will also be promoted so that players can play safely and responsibly.
Government’s strictness on money games
With the formation of this law, apart from running money-related online games, advertising them or making transactions related to them will be considered a crime. However, there will be no punishment on the players. On the other hand, those who run such games, advertise and provide financial help may have to face jail and fine.
What can be the punishment?
Those who run such games can face up to three years in jail and a fine of up to one crore rupees.
Also, those who advertise can be jailed for up to 2 years and fined up to Rs 50 lakh.
Up to three years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh is possible for transactions related to cash.
On the other hand, repeat offenders will have to face up to 5 years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 2 crore.
Not only this, the government has also empowered the officers to seize online or offline property and arrest without warrant if required.
What is the whole matter
President Draupadi Murmu on Friday approved the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Bill, 2025. Its notification may be issued on Saturday.
However, even before the law related to this comes into effect, major online gaming companies have stopped their money gaming ‘game’ being run in the country. Let us tell you that as soon as the bill was passed, the government had sent it for the President’s approval.
IT Secretary S. Krishnan said that it will take time to make other rules of the law, before that the prohibitive process will be in force. He also said that the work of making rules for the remaining provisions has started. Also, work is also going on to create a regulatory authority, which will oversee the online gaming sector.
