India’s Central government has informed the Delhi High Court that it will soon establish a regulatory authority and frame rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which has received Presidential assent but is yet to be notified.
As reported by The Economic Times, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela that while the government supports online gaming, money-based games raise serious concerns, including addiction and suicides among children. “We are not against online gaming, but money games pose dangers,” Mehta said.
The court was hearing a petition by Bagheera Carrom (OPC), a gaming company that has challenged the Act as unconstitutional, arbitrary, and vague. The company argued the law was passed without stakeholder consultation and imposes a blanket ban on all online money games, regardless of whether they are skill-based or chance-based.
Bagheera, which operates a skill-based online carrom platform, contended that the law threatens legitimate businesses and violates Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution. The petition urges the court to either strike down the Act or read down certain sections to protect skill-based gaming.
The Bench, while acknowledging the government’s assurances, noted that without notification and rules, the law is not yet enforceable. “Your apprehension of prosecution is not live as of today,” the Chief Justice told the petitioner.
The court also emphasised the need for a regulatory authority to determine what qualifies under the Act. The matter has been posted for hearing after eight weeks. Bagheera’s counsel, Harsh Jaiswal, welcomed the court’s observations, calling them a “big relief” for industry players.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court is hearing a similar challenge from Head Digital Works, the operator of A23, over the sweeping restrictions on online money games.
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India’s Central government has informed the Delhi High Court that it will soon establish a regulatory authority and frame rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which has received Presidential assent but is yet to be notified. As reported by The Economic Times, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a division bench…
The post India’s government to set up authority under Online Gaming Act appeared first on G3 Newswire.