Hearing in Supreme Court today against online gaming act: Government demands- All petitions should be heard in the same court

Petitions have been filed in Karnataka, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh High Courts against the Online Gaming Act.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to be heard today (Monday, 8 September) regarding the online gaming act. The central government had moved the Supreme Court to listen to the petitions challenging the promotion and regulation of online gaming act 2025 for online gaming.

On September 4, the case was mentioned in front of the bench led by Chief Justice of Supreme Court BR Gavai. The court ordered it to be listed for hearing on 8 September. The Center says that if there is a hearing in different High Courts, there may be a conflict in decisions, which will make the legal status difficult.

This law banns the real-mani games (games played at stake). Against which petitions have been filed in Karnataka, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh High Courts. The central government has demanded from the Supreme Court that these petitions should be transferred to the Supreme Court or any one High Court, so that different decisions can be avoided.

Online gaming law challenged in High Court

Three companies have filed petitions in different High Courts against this law:

1. Madhya Pradesh High Court: Clubbum 11 Sports and Entertainment has challenged this law in MP High Court. The company runs online fantasy sports platform boom 11. 2. Karnataka High Court: Head Digital Works has filed a petition against this law in the Karnataka High Court. The court has set a hearing on its interim relief demand on 8 September. Head Digital Works online Rummi platform A23 runs Rummi. 3. Delhi High Court: Online carrom platform Bagheera Carrom has also filed a petition against this law in the Delhi High Court.

Karnataka High Court sought answers from central government

Earlier, in the hearing held on August 30, the Karnataka High Court sought a reply from the Central Government on the petition of the online gaming company A23, which challenged the online gaming act 2025. This petition challenged a new law banning online money gaming in India. The petitioners had said that this law would suddenly take away the livelihood of thousands of people and would ‘close overnight’ to the industry.

If the industry suddenly stops then there will be a serious effect

While hearing the case, Justice B.M. Shyam Prasad issued a notice to the Center and allowed the petitioners to present their points on the demand for interim relief. The senior lawyer appearing on behalf of the petitioners had argued that the act was not notified yet despite the approval of the President. The petition was presented before the bench of Justice BM Shyam Prasad on 28 August.

The lawyer had said that if this industry suddenly stopped then there will be a serious effect. The government either stop notification or give at least one week notice so that we can come to court. At the same time, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had said on behalf of the government that once Parliament passes the law and the President gets approval, the notification is a constitutional process, in which the court cannot interfere.

Online gaming bill was approved by the President on 22 August

The President’s approval was received on the online gaming bill 2025 on 22 August. Now this has become a law. On August 21, the Rajya Sabha approved the Promotion and Regulation of online gaming bill 2025 by the Rajya Sabha and a day before that. The bill was introduced by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.

A23 said- New law violation of fundamental right

A23 parent company Head Digital Works says that this law also banned games that are skill-based, such as Rumi and Poker. For the last 70 years in India, the Supreme Court and many High Courts have considered skill-based games to be different from gambling. A23 argues that:

• This law violates the fundamental right to trade.
• Law does not distinguish between skill-based and chances-based games.
• This ban will cause huge loss to the gaming industry. Millions of jobs are in danger.
• People will go to illegal offshore platforms from the ban, where there is no regulation.

What will be the impact on the industry?

After the arrival of this law, big platforms like Dream 11, Games 24 X7, Winzo, Gamescraft, and My 11 Circle have closed their money-based games. For example:

• Dream 11 announced the closure of its cash-based games on 22 August.
• Gamescraft has stopped its Rumi apps, such as Rumiculture and Gameplay Services.
• Pokering has also closed its operations.

4 strict rules in online gaming law

It has been said in this law that whether these games are a skill based or a chance based on both.

• Ban on real-mani games: It is illegal to offer, run, promote any money based game. Those who play online games will not be punished.
• Punishment and fine: If someone offers a real-meri game or promotes it, he can be imprisoned up to 3 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore. The advertisements may be fined 2 years in jail and up to Rs 50 lakh.
• Regulatory Authority: A special authority will be created, which will regulate the gaming industry, register the games and decide which game is a real-mani game.
• Promotion of e-sports: E-sports and social games like Pubji and Free Fire will be supported. These games are without money, so they will be encouraged.

Money based gaming is suffering financial loss

The government says that people are suffering mental and financial loss due to money based online gaming. Some people drowned so much in gaming addiction that they lost their lives and in some cases, reports of suicide were also revealed.

Apart from this, there are also concerns about money laundering and national security. The government wants to take strict steps to stop it.

Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said in Parliament, “Online money games are causing a big problem in the society. They are increasing drugs, the savings of families are ending.

It is estimated that around 45 crore people are affected by this and middle-class families have lost Rs 20,000 crore. ”He also said that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized it as a gaming disorder.

Online gaming market was 86% Revenue from Real Money Format

The online gaming market in India is currently worth around Rs 32,000 crore. Out of this, 86% of revenue used to come from real money format. It was expected to reach around 80 thousand crore rupees by 2029. But now they have closed real money games.

The people of the industry are saying that this move of the government may put 2 lakh jobs in danger. The government may also suffer a loss of tax of about 20 thousand rupees every year.

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