India Bans Online Gambling, Including Cricket Apps, After Losing $2.3 Billion
NEW DELHI: India has officially banned online gambling after government figures revealed that nearly 450 million people lost a combined $2.3 billion annually through gaming apps. The new legislation, passed by both houses of parliament, directly impacts platforms offering card games, poker, and fantasy sports, including India’s wildly popular fantasy cricket apps.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill criminalises the promotion, financing, or offering of online gambling platforms. Offenders could now face up to five years in prison under the sweeping law.
According to government data, almost a third of India’s population had been impacted by financial losses from online betting. Officials said gambling addiction has fueled financial ruin, fraud, money laundering, and even suicide, forcing urgent intervention.
A government statement noted, “This legislation is designed to curb addiction, financial ruin, and social distress caused by predatory gaming platforms that thrive on misleading promises of quick wealth.”
While the bill bans gambling-based platforms, it also carves out exceptions for e-sports and educational games, which will be promoted as part of India’s growing digital economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the law will “encourage e-sports and online social games” while protecting society from the harmful effects of money-based gaming.
India’s gaming industry is one of the largest in the world, and many industry groups had urged for regulation and taxation instead of a blanket ban, warning that it may push players towards illegal offshore platforms. However, supporters of the law argue that the social costs outweigh the economic benefits of allowing gambling apps to operate.
Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that the legislation distinguishes between constructive digital recreation and exploitative gambling platforms, ensuring that e-sports and safe social gaming continue to thrive.
This historic ban is expected to reshape India’s digital gaming landscape, curbing addiction while redirecting focus toward competitive e-sports and educational platforms.
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