Oh My God! Online Money Gaming (OMG) platforms are banned in India. With the passage of TPROG, the government now wields a legal stick against India’s online money gaming ecosystem. The stakeholders of the OMG industry see this as a death blow to a business model that was just taking shape. Their argument: regulate and tax the sector instead of banning it, which could in turn bring the exchequer handsome GST revenue. But beyond the industry’s outcry and the government’s stance, there are deeper issues to consider.

What Modi and Vaishnaw Say

After the Bill’s passage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to shape the narrative: “This Bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament, highlights our commitment to making India a hub for gaming, innovation, and creativity. It will encourage e-sports and online social games, while protecting society from the harmful effects of online money games.”

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw echoed the sentiment in Parliament. Between revenue and safeguarding youth, he said, the Modi government chose the latter. He assured that e-sports and training-based online games — such as chess — will thrive, alongside educational and community-oriented games. The only category to face punishment: online money gaming.

The Business at Stake

The numbers are staggering. Of the 155 million daily online gamers in India, 110 million engaged with OMG platforms. Quoting a FICCI-EY study, Ramaprasad Murali of Times of India wrote: India’s gaming sector is worth Rs 32,000 crore, with OMGs accounting for Rs 27,000 crore. OMG platforms also generated USD 600 million in ad revenue during FY 2024.

The Industry’s........

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