Online Gaming Bill regulating betting apps, penalising playing, will get Cabinet approval: Sources

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday accredited the Online Gaming Bill, which goals to manage betting apps and put strict checks on playing, sources mentioned.

The Bill seeks to carry on-line gaming platforms beneath a authorized framework and introduce penalties for playing by digital apps.

The authorities has been tightening its oversight of the sector lately. Since October 2023, a 28% GST has been utilized to on-line gaming, whereas winnings from video games are taxed at 30% from the monetary yr 2024–25. Even offshore gaming platforms have been introduced beneath the tax internet, and businesses have the facility to dam unregistered or unlawful websites.

Last yr, new legal provisions beneath the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita got here into pressure, making unauthorised betting punishable with jail phrases of as much as seven years and fines. States, nonetheless, stay the principle authority to behave towards unlawful betting and playing, as “betting and gambling” fall beneath the State List of the Constitution.

Between 2022 and February 2025, the federal government blocked over 1,400 betting and playing web sites and apps. To deal with habit, the Education Ministry has issued advisories to folks and lecturers, whereas the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has directed TV channels to make sure that gaming advertisements carry disclaimers warning about monetary dangers and attainable habit.

Officials mentioned the goal is to make the web — and on-line gaming specifically — secure, accountable and accountable.

– Ends