India’s booming online gaming industry is pushing back against the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, recently passed by the Lok Sabha. The bill, which aims to regulate the sector and ban all real-money games, including fantasy sports and rummy, has triggered a wave of legal challenges from major gaming companies and industry bodies.

At the core of the resistance is the bill’s lack of distinction between games of skill and games of chance, a crucial legal line that has long protected popular gaming formats. Industry leaders argue that blanket restrictions unfairly target legitimate businesses and could result in massive job losses, reduced foreign investments, and growth stagnation in a sector valued at over ₹25,000 crore.

Moreover, legal experts say the bill may infringe on state rights, as gambling and betting fall under state jurisdiction. Many believe the Centre’s move to create a National Gaming Authority oversteps constitutional boundaries, setting the stage for a significant federal legal battle.

To create public awareness and highlight the bill’s potential damage, the gaming sector has launched outreach campaigns and filed petitions in various High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the government has defended the bill, stating that it is meant to curb gambling addiction, prevent financial fraud, and protect young users.

With both sides holding firm, the court’s decision will likely shape the future of online gaming in India-balancing innovation, regulation, and fundamental rights.