Supreme Court to hear challenges to India’s online gaming ban

All cases questioning the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act will be heard by the top court.

India.- The Supreme Court of India will take up all petitions filed in high courts challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan ruled that the Delhi, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh High Courts must send case records to the apex court within a week and that no other court should consider challenges to the law.

The court argued that transferring all cases was necessary to prevent conflicting judgments and ensure a decisive ruling on the law’s constitutionality. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the court that consolidating the disputes would also save judicial time as arguments had already been heard in other gaming-related cases.

The new law passed in August and awaiting notification imposes a ban on offering and advertising real-money online games. It has sparked widespread opposition from industry stakeholders, who argue that it violates constitutional rights and threatens thousands of jobs.

Petitioners, including Head Digital Works (operator of A23), Bagheera Carrom, and Clubboom11 Sports, contend that the Act was rushed through without adequate consultation and undermines fundamental rights such as equality, free expression and the right to conduct business. They argue that fantasy sports and other skill-based formats should be regulated rather than banned outright.

Companies such as MPL, Games24x7, and Baazi Games have begun layoffs, while industry associations warn that more than 200,000 jobs across 400 firms could be at risk.

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All cases questioning the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act will be heard by the top court. India.- The Supreme Court of India will take up all petitions filed…