Parliament passes Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025: online money games banned, e-sports promoted
Rajya Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 on 21 August 2025, a day after the Lok Sabha, banning online money games while promoting e-sports and online social games; it received Presidential assent on 22 August as Act No. 32 of 2025.
Summary
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 was passed by Parliament on 21 August 2025, when the Rajya Sabha cleared it a day after the Lok Sabha passed it on 20 August. The law imposes a complete ban on online money games, whether games of chance, skill or both, prohibits their advertisement, and bars banks and payment systems from processing related transactions. It recognises e-sports as a legitimate competitive sport, with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to frame guidelines, empowers the Centre to recognise safe social and educational games, and provides for a national Online Gaming Authority. Offering or facilitating money games can attract up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 crore, advertising up to two years and ₹50 lakh, and key offences are cognisable and non-bailable. President Droupadi Murmu gave assent on 22 August 2025, and it was published as Act No. 32 of 2025.
Key facts
- Lok Sabha
- Passed 20 Aug 2025
- Rajya Sabha
- Passed 21 Aug 2025
- Assent
- 22 Aug 2025; Act No. 32 of 2025
- Ministry
- Electronics and IT
- Ban
- All online money games (chance, skill or both), their ads and payments
- E-sports
- Recognised as legitimate sport; MoYAS to frame guidelines
- Regulator
- Online Gaming Authority (new or designated)
- Penalties
- Offering: up to 3 yrs + ₹1 crore; ads: up to 2 yrs + ₹50 lakh; repeat: up to 5 yrs + ₹2 crore
- Offences
- Key offences cognisable and non-bailable
Practice MCQs 5 questions
Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, offering or facilitating online money games can attract what maximum punishment for a first offence?
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Correct answer: B — Up to 3 years and ₹1 crore
Offering or facilitating online money games can lead to imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to ₹1 crore; repeat offenders face up to five years and ₹2 crore.
After receiving Presidential assent on 22 August 2025, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act was published as which Act number of 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Act No. 32
The Gazette notification states that the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 received assent on 22 August 2025 and is No. 32 of 2025.
Which ministry will prepare guidelines and standards for e-sports tournaments under the online gaming law passed in August 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
E-sports are recognised as a legitimate competitive sport, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will prepare guidelines and standards for tournaments.
Consider the following statements about the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025: 1. The ban on online money games applies to games of skill as well as games of chance. 2. Advertising online money games can attract imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct: the complete ban covers games of chance, games of skill and those combining both, and advertising such games can attract a jail term of up to two years and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh.
Consider the following statements about the online gaming law of 2025: 1. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 20 August 2025 and by the Rajya Sabha on 21 August 2025. 2. Offences under its key provisions are cognisable but bailable. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: the Lok Sabha passed the Bill on 20 August and the Rajya Sabha on 21 August 2025. Statement 2 is incorrect: offences under key provisions are cognisable and non-bailable.