New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill amid loud protests and sloganeering from the Opposition.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who moved the Bill already cleared by the Lok Sabha, explained that the legislation covers three segments—E-sports, Online Social Gaming, and Online Money Gaming. Of these, the first two will be promoted and regulated, while the third is flagged as a “public health risk.”
Highlighting the positive aspects, Vaishnaw said E-sports encourage teamwork and strategic thinking, and Indian players have already won international medals. The Bill grants E-sports legal recognition and provides for a dedicated authority. Similarly, online social games like chess, sudoku and solitaire will also be promoted under regulatory oversight.
However, the minister warned that online money games have emerged as a serious threat to society, particularly for middle-class youth. “It leads to addiction, drains family savings, and has affected nearly 45 crore people, destroying over ₹20,000 crore,” he said. Citing the World Health Organization, he noted that compulsive gaming is now classified as a disorder, often linked to psychological problems, violent behaviour, money laundering, and even terror financing.
Vaishnaw also criticised the Opposition for disrupting proceedings. “It is the responsibility of the Government and Parliament to address irregularities in society,” he said, drawing parallels with the Modi government’s crackdown on chit funds. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently prioritised the welfare of the middle class and youth, even above revenue concerns. “If the Opposition were genuinely concerned about these issues, they would support the Bill instead of pursuing only their political objectives,” he asserted.
