New law bans online money games, gambling, and advertising, imposing strict penalties up to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to Rs 2 crore.
Online Gaming Bill Clears Parliament Despite Opposition Protests
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill was passed in Parliament on Friday, following approval in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha by voice vote. The legislation aims to ban online games played with real money, criminalize their operation, facilitation, and advertising, and impose strict penalties for violations.
Key Highlights of the Bill
- Ban on Online Money Games: All online betting, gambling, and fantasy sports involving real money deposits will be prohibited. This includes popular games such as Poker, Rummy, and online lotteries.
- Penalties:
- Up to 3 years imprisonment and/or fine up to Rs 1 crore for facilitating online money gaming.
- Advertising these games may attract imprisonment of up to 2 years and/or fine up to Rs 50 lakh.
- Repeat offences can lead to enhanced penalties of 3 to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to Rs 2 crore.
- Non-bailable and Cognizable Offences: Key sections of the bill make offences cognizable and non-bailable, ensuring stricter enforcement.
- Financial Restrictions: Banks and financial institutions are barred from processing or facilitating payments related to online money games.
Government’s Standpoint
Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, emphasized the dangers of money-game addiction, comparing it to drug addiction. He warned that powerful entities behind these games would likely challenge the law in courts and launch social media campaigns opposing the ban. Vaishnaw also highlighted concerns about the misuse of gaming revenues to support terror activities.
Opposition’s Concerns and Protests
Opposition leaders strongly protested the bill’s passage without a proper discussion. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the lack of debate, demanding parliamentary discussion before approval. Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju responded that the Opposition’s continuous protests made it difficult to hold a debate. The Opposition also called for discussion on the Election Commission’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
What Constitutes an Online Money Game?
The bill defines an online money game as any game where users deposit money with the hope of winning monetary or other rewards.
The new legislation marks a significant step in regulating online gaming in India by cracking down on illegal money gaming and its advertisement. While the government asserts the bill will protect citizens from gambling-related harms, the opposition remains concerned about the legislative process.
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