New Delhi: Online money gaming has become a serious social and public health concern, with substantial negative consequences for society, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. His remarks came after the Lok Sabha passed the bill banning online games played with real money. Vaishnaw emphasized that the legislation aims to promote eSports and social gaming, positioning India as a global hub for game development.
The minister’s statement comes in the wake of the Lok Sabha passing the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, which prohibits the operation, facilitation, and advertisement of online money-based games. The government has moved to address rising cases of addiction, financial fraud, and money laundering linked to these platforms.
“Our goal is to promote eSports and online social gaming, and we envision India becoming a game development hub. Considerable efforts are already underway to achieve this,” Vaishnaw told reporters.
According to the minister, online gaming has grown into a “major sector” with three primary segments.
“Two segments—eSports and online social gaming—are beneficial to society. These two will receive legal recognition and active promotion. The bill also establishes an authority to implement programs and schemes supporting eSports and social gaming,” he said.
The third segment, online money gaming, is proving harmful to society and has emerged as a major social and public health challenge, Vaishnaw added.
“Even the WHO recognizes a condition called gaming disorder, which can trigger anxiety, depression, sleep problems, social withdrawal, and stress. It leads to compulsive behavior, psychological distress, and serious disruptions in family and social life. Addiction to online money gaming has driven middle-class families to lose their life savings, with some cases even resulting in suicide,” the minister said.
