New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday gave her assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a day after it was cleared by Parliament. The law brings strict restrictions on money-based online gaming platforms in India, aiming to protect families from financial losses caused by gambling.
Under the legislation, anyone facilitating such online money games can face up to three years of imprisonment and fines of Rs 1 crore. Advertising or promoting these platforms may attract up to two years of jail and fines of Rs 50 lakh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following Parliament’s approval, said the bill would safeguard society from the harmful effects of online money games. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill in just 26 minutes on Thursday, after the Lok Sabha approved it within seven minutes, despite protests by Opposition members alleging procedural irregularities.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, who piloted the legislation, stated that nearly 45 crore people have been affected by online money games, with losses totaling around Rs 20,000 crore. He said it is the government’s duty to protect society from such social evils.
Following the bill’s passage, several online gaming platforms, including WinZO and Nazara Technologies-backed Moonshine Technologies (PokerBaazi), suspended real-money operations. With the President’s assent, the law is now in effect nationwide.
The move has been widely welcomed by members of the Muslim community, civil society organizations, and social welfare groups, who said it protects families from financial exploitation and promotes social responsibility.
From an Islamic perspective, gambling is strictly prohibited as it causes financial harm and social disruption. Islam encourages measures that protect individuals and families from financial exploitation and maintain justice in society. This legislation is therefore seen as a positive step in safeguarding social and financial well-being.
