President Draupadi Murmu on Friday approved the online gaming promotion and regulation Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament this week. The bill was brought to encourage e-sports and online social games, as well as banning harmful online money gaming services, advertisements and financial transactions related to them. The bill attempts to ban, operate or facilitate online money games, whether they are based on skills, coincidences or both.
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The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday and a day later in the Rajya Sabha. The objective of the online gaming enrichment and regulation Bill is to promote e-Sports and online social games, as well as declare online money gaming as illegal. Sources had earlier reported that those who play online money games would not be punished; Only service providers, advertisers, promoters and economically supporting such sports will have to bear the consequences. Through this bill, the government aims to promote e-sports and provide them legal recognition. This bill will help in providing legal aid to e-sports. Sources said that earlier, e-sports had no legal support.
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The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will establish a dedicated structure for promoting e-sportes, which is recognized as a valid form of competitive sports in India. The government will also promote online social games. The government believes that serious consequences like online money gaming addiction, financial loss and even suicide can be prevented by banning such activities. Sources said that there were reports of money laundering and financing terrorism.