Gaming ban faces supreme test

November 5, 2025

India’s booming online gaming industry has come to a standstill as the Supreme Court begins examining the constitutional validity of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

The law, which bans all “online money games” and restricts related banking, advertising, and promotional activities, has drawn widespread concern from gaming firms and professional players alike. For companies that thrived on fantasy sports, poker, and rummy platforms, the Act has meant an abrupt shutdown.

Industry leaders say the restrictions have halted operations for more than a month, leaving thousands without work and millions of users without access to their usual platforms. Even professional players, including chess enthusiasts who compete in online tournaments for income, have found themselves locked out of legitimate competitions.

A bench led by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan has asked the Union government to submit a comprehensive affidavit responding to a batch of petitions filed by gaming firms. The court acknowledged the law’s sweeping impact and remarked on the peculiar situation of players whose only livelihood now stands disrupted.