New Delhi: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Friday a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), seeking directions to the Union Government to prohibit online gambling and betting platforms that allegedly operate under the guise of social and e-sports games.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran took note of submissions made by advocate Virag Gupta, representing CASC, on Thursday and scheduled the matter for hearing on October 17.
Petition Seeks Harmonised Regulation and Enforcement
The PIL has sought directions to the Union Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology, Information and Broadcasting, Finance, and Youth Affairs & Sports to ensure a harmonious interpretation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, alongside various State legislations, to curb online gambling activities disguised as legitimate gaming platforms.
Filed on October 13 through advocates Virag Gupta and Rupali Panwar, the plea names six respondents, including the four Union ministries and leading app-store operators Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt. Ltd.
The petitioners—CASC, represented by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh and Shourya Tiwari—have urged the apex court to direct immediate government intervention against what they describe as a “rapidly proliferating menace” of online betting and gambling apps, which they claim are causing serious social, financial, and psychological harm across the country.
Massive Scale and Economic Impact Highlighted
The petition asserts that betting and gambling are prohibited in most Indian states, yet online gaming operators continue to function freely under misleading labels. Citing government affidavits and data from various high court cases, the plea claims that over 65 crore Indians are engaged in such games, generating an annual business exceeding ₹1.8 lakh crore.
“Around half of India’s population is involved in online gaming, with devastating consequences for society, the economy, and national security,” the PIL states.
The petition notes that the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 itself recognises the harmful impact of such activities. Referring to the IT Minister’s speech in Parliament, the PIL underscores that the Act was introduced to protect societal welfare and curb the growing menace of digital gambling.
Allegations of a ‘National Crisis’
CASC warns that the unchecked expansion of online gaming platforms has evolved into a “national crisis,” causing financial distress, addiction, mental health deterioration, and even suicides.
The plea also raises concern over celebrities and cricketers endorsing such platforms, alleging that these promotions are fueling cyber fraud, addiction, and exploitation of minors.
Quoting the Union IT Minister, the petition adds:
“The fraud and cheating algorithms are such that it’s impossible to tell who is playing against whom. These opaque algorithms ensure defeat and enable large-scale money laundering.”
Key Demands in the Petition
- Nationwide prohibition of all online gambling and betting platforms operating as social or e-sports games.
- Blocking orders under Section 69A of the IT Act against all unlawful betting sites and applications.
- Directions to the RBI, NPCI, and UPI platforms to disallow monetary transactions involving unregistered gaming apps.
- Tax recovery and criminal investigation into offshore gaming firms—through Interpol, CBI, and ED—believed to owe more than ₹2 lakh crore in unpaid taxes.
- Protection of minors’ data collected by gaming companies and stricter oversight of digital advertising and endorsements.
Broader Implications
The PIL underscores that India’s digital gaming ecosystem, while expanding rapidly, remains poorly regulated, allowing gambling and money laundering activities to thrive under the facade of entertainment.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the matter, the case could have far-reaching implications for India’s burgeoning online gaming industry—potentially prompting a sweeping regulatory overhaul to safeguard public interest and digital integrity.
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