The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, among other things, prohibits online games of chance, including those involving betting or wagering with money. The ban hasn’t come a day too soon, though apologists for online gaming—who have a blinkered view of the issue—bemoan the loss of GST (28 per cent of the bet) from this burgeoning national pastime, which had clocked massive volumes and was growing rapidly.

The online gaming market in India was booming, last valued at approximately Rs 31,938 crore (US$ 3.7 billion). Projections indicated a significant expansion, with the market potentially reaching Rs 77,688 crore (US$ 9 billion) by 2029, according to a report by WinZO Games and the Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council. This growth was fuelled by a large and rapidly growing user base, technological advancements, and increasing mobile penetration. This is the industry perspective.

It is a good thing the Central government did not heed the industry’s plea. Instead, it accepted the argument that such platforms had become increasingly addictive and were leading to financial distress among people. The new law makes offering or enabling such services punishable with a jail term of up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.

India is not alone in this seemingly puritanical or prissy view of gambling. For instance, the state of Louisiana........

© News18