Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 has prompted the Union government to take action by requesting the Supreme Court to consolidate multiple petitions that challenge the Act. These challenges are currently under consideration in various High Courts including those in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi. According to reports from Bar and Bench, this move aims to prevent conflicting judgments across different jurisdictions.
The government has asked the Supreme Court to hear the transfer plea quickly, especially given that there is an imminent interim hearing scheduled in Karnataka. The Chief Justice’s bench has agreed to schedule the matter for consideration next week.
This controversial law, passed by Parliament on 21 August and receiving presidential assent on 22 August, imposes a nationwide ban on real-money online gaming, which includes fantasy sports and various skill-based games. Petitioners contend that the Act unfairly bans games of skill, thereby infringing on the constitutional right to pursue any profession or trade.
Several gaming companies, including Clubboom11, have received notices from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which has set a next hearing date for 28 October, instructing the Centre to respond within a month. Concurrently, petitions in Karnataka and Delhi are also advancing.
The Centre aims to unite all challenges within the Supreme Court in order to achieve a cohesive judicial decision. Recently, A23’s parent company became the first significant gaming enterprise to contest the new law in court. In contrast, leading players such as Dream11, Gameskraft, and MPL have decided against challenging the legislation.
