In a decisive move, the Supreme Court of India has assumed direct jurisdiction over all petitions challenging the recent ban on real-money online gaming. The Court observed that consolidation of the like cases will conserve precious judicial time.
This came after the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill in August 2025, which overnight banned real-money gaming in the country. Earlier, the industry, which was set to grow to $3.6 billion by 2029, was functioning legally on the basis that the online games being offered were games of skill.
These challenges, which were originally instituted in various state High Courts by the proponents of the industry, will now be entertained exclusively by the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta drew comparisons to prior litigation regarding the 28 percent GST imposition on online gaming.
The ban comes as a reflection of the government's long-established position weighing in on the dangers of addiction and financial harm allegedly posed by real-money games, with the officials alleging connections between the biggest platforms and money laundering. The industry stands to say the move took away an enormously profitable sector that employed thousands and contributed much to the economy.