In a move that has sent shockwaves through the gambling industry, India’s Parliament has passed legislation banning all real-money online games nationwide. This sweeping decision aims to address growing concerns over gambling addiction, rising personal debt, and a troubling increase in suicides linked to losses from real-money gaming.
The newly enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2005 targets a broad range of platforms, including fantasy sports, online poker, card games, and other skill-based contests. The legislation effectively dismantles a booming digital sector that currently serves nearly 450 million users. Under the new law, banks and payment processors are prohibited from facilitating transactions related to these games. Violators could face fines of up to $10 million or prison sentences of up to three years.
