Leading online gaming bodies have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent intervention against any move for a blanket ban on real money games as the government readies the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.
The Bill, to be introduced in the Lok Sabha by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, proposes a national framework for regulating online gaming while prohibiting money games operating across states or from foreign jurisdictions.
In a joint representation, the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and the Federation of India Fantasy Sports (FIFS) warned that an outright ban would devastate India’s skill-based gaming sector, which they described as a key driver of the Prime Minister’s vision for a USD 1 trillion digital economy.
“Such a blanket prohibition would strike a death knell for this legitimate, job-creating industry and cause serious harm to Indian users and citizens,” the gaming bodies said.
They pointed out that the industry today commands an enterprise valuation of over ₹2 lakh crore, generates ₹31,000 crore in annual revenue, and contributes ₹20,000 crore in taxes. Growing at 20% CAGR, the sector is projected to double by 2028.
India’s gamer base has surged from 36 crore in 2020 to over 50 crore in 2024, supported by ₹25,000 crore in foreign direct investment and over 2 lakh jobs.
The federations urged the Centre to adopt progressive regulation instead of prohibition, arguing that India has the chance to lead the global gaming, tech, and digital entertainment landscape.
They requested an urgent meeting with the government to present proposals for responsible gaming safeguards, including measures to protect users.
The proposed Bill, listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, seeks to regulate online gaming—covering e-sports, educational, and social gaming—through a new Authority for oversight, policy support, and sector development.
It also proposes prohibiting the operation, facilitation, promotion, or participation in online money games that cut across state boundaries or are run from foreign jurisdictions. The Bill cites the need to protect youth and vulnerable groups from the social, economic, psychological, and privacy risks posed by such games, while also ensuring public order and health.
