New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought the Centre’s assistance on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a nationwide ban on online gambling and betting platforms allegedly operating under the guise of social and e-sports games.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan directed the petitioner’s counsel to serve a copy of the plea to the Centre’s counsel. “We request VC Bharathi to look into the petition and assist us on the next date of hearing. List after two weeks,” the bench said in its order passed on Friday.
The petition, filed by the think tank Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), has sought directions to the Union government to prohibit online gambling and betting platforms disguised as digital gaming or e-sports applications. It has also urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and UPI platforms to block monetary transactions involving unregistered gaming apps.
Additionally, the plea calls for tax recovery and investigation through the Interpol, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Enforcement Directorate (ED) against offshore gaming operators allegedly evading over ₹2 lakh crore in taxes.
The petitioner has also sought directions to the Union Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology, Information and Broadcasting, Finance, and Youth Affairs and Sports to ensure a coordinated interpretation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, alongside state laws prohibiting online gambling and betting activities. The Act provides a legal framework to promote safe online recreation while banning harmful money-based games.
The PIL names six respondents — four Union ministries, along with Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt. Ltd., which operate major app stores.
CASC has urged the Supreme Court to direct the government to curb the proliferation of betting and gambling applications, citing their “widespread social and economic harm.” The petition claims that over 65 crore people in India engage in such games, generating an annual turnover exceeding ₹1.8 lakh crore.
“Nearly half of India’s population is playing online games, which are adversely affecting the economy, society, and national security,” the plea stated. It highlighted the objectives of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, noting that the law aims to safeguard public welfare and curb the “serious social evil” posed by online gambling.
The plea describes the unchecked growth of online gaming as a “national crisis,” attributing it to rising instances of financial distress, mental health problems, and suicides. It seeks a blanket prohibition on all betting and gambling platforms masquerading as e-sports or social games, as well as blocking orders under Section 69A of the IT Act to disable access to such unlawful websites and apps.
The petition also calls for protection of minors’ personal data collected by gaming companies and criticizes celebrity endorsements by top cricketers and film actors, alleging that these encourage addiction, cyber fraud, and money laundering.
“The fraud and cheating algorithms used by these platforms make it impossible to know who is playing,” the PIL alleged, warning that “massive money laundering” may be occurring under the cover of online gaming.
