President Murmu gives assent to online gaming bill, law imposes up to 3 years jail and ₹1 crore fine

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday gave her assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, turning it into law. The legislation, passed by the Rajya Sabha a day after its clearance in the Lok Sabha, marks a sweeping crackdown on online money gaming platforms in India.

The new law prohibits all online money gaming services. Violators face imprisonment of up to three years and fines as high as ₹1 crore, while advertising such platforms could attract penalties of up to two years in jail and fines of ₹50 lakh.

The Bill was passed swiftly in both Houses — in just seven minutes in the Lok Sabha and 26 minutes in the Rajya Sabha — despite opposition protests over procedural concerns. Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, defending the legislation, said millions of people were losing their life savings to online gaming platforms, with government estimates suggesting ₹20,000 crore in losses affecting nearly 450 million players.

“From time to time, society grapples with social evils. In these circumstances, it is the duty of the government and the parliament to probe and make laws to control them,” Vaishnaw told Parliament.