New Delhi: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, on Wednesday drew positive reactions from industry leaders and legal experts, who described it as innovative and far-reaching.

They said the legislation not only recognises e-sports as a new dimension of competitive sport but also addresses serious social concerns such as addiction, financial security, fraud and money laundering.

Gaurav Sahay, founding partner of Arthasashtra Legal, said the Bill is comprehensive in scope as it applies across the entire chain, from service providers and facilitators to those promoting such games. He added that the framework aims to prevent fraud, money laundering and terror financing by prohibiting all forms of real-money gaming, whether based on chance or skill.

Financial institutions, payment intermediaries and advertising platforms have also been barred from supporting such games. Sahay further highlighted the inclusion of 'aggravated liability' for repeat offences, which carries harsher penalties, including imprisonment and heavy fines.

At the same time, the Bill provides recognition to e-sports as a distinct sport and calls for the creation of a National E-Sports Authority and a National Gaming Authority to oversee regulation, classification, investigation and the blocking of unlawful platforms.

Industry leaders welcomed the government’s initiative to promote e-sports. Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, called the step encouraging but stressed the need for clear definitions to distinguish between e-sports, social games and real-money gaming.

“Ambiguity in terminology has often caused confusion for regulators, players and investors. Clear definitions will create a stable environment that fosters investor confidence and sustainable growth,” Rathee said.

Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of SBUL, described the Bill as a “historic turning point” for Indian e-sports. He said that by drawing a clear line between skill-based gaming and betting, the law safeguards the integrity of the ecosystem while creating space for structured growth.

“E-sports is a sport built on skill, discipline and years of grind. With government recognition and better infrastructure, India can become a global powerhouse,” Agarwal added.

Legal experts have also noted that the Bill marks a shift from regulation to prohibition when it comes to real-money gaming. Vikramjeet Singh, partner at BTB Advaya, said that while Indian law has traditionally allowed games of skill with monetary stakes, the new law bans even those if they involve real-money play.

He pointed out that this follows recent court decisions and responds to concerns about money laundering and social harm.

The Indian Digital Gaming Society (IDGS) expressed support for the government’s move, saying it welcomes the recognition of e-sports and the distinction between real-money gaming and casual video games. The body said the clarity will allow e-sports and casual gaming to grow as safe and community-driven platforms for youth engagement, creativity and digital innovation.

 

 

 

 

 

IANS inputs