Industry our bodies representing India’s on-line skill-gaming sector have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in search of his “urgent intervention” towards a reported draft Bill that proposes to ban all real-money video games, together with these primarily based on talent.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) launched the Bill in Lok Sabha.
In a joint letter, the federations warned that such a blanket prohibition could be a “death knell” for the trade, destroying jobs and pushing crores of customers in the direction of unlawful offshore betting and playing platforms.
Parliament Monsoon session Day 20 LIVE
The letter, dated August 19, was despatched on behalf of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS).
The letter said that the web talent gaming trade is a “sunrise sector” with an enterprise valuation of over ₹2 lakh crore and annual income exceeding ₹31,000 crore. It contributes over ₹20,000 crore in direct and oblique taxes yearly and is projected to develop at a 20% compound annual progress fee (CAGR), doubling by 2028.
The whole variety of Indian on-line players grew from 36 crore in 2020 to over 50 crore in 2024, it famous, including that the trade has attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of over ₹25,000 crore until June 2022 and at present helps over two lakh direct and oblique jobs.
“Such a blanket prohibition would strike a death knell for this legitimate, job-creating industry, and would cause serious harm to Indian users and citizens.”
“This Bill, if passed, will cause serious harm to Indian users and citizens. By shutting down regulated and responsible Indian platforms, it will drive crores of players into the hands of illegal matka networks, offshore gambling websites, and fly-by-night operators who operate without any safeguards, consumer protections, or taxation,” the trade our bodies stated.
The trade our bodies asserted {that a} ban would additionally deter international funding and investor sentiment, end in over 400 firms shutting down, and weaken India’s place as a digital innovator.
The letter cautioned that as an alternative of defending individuals, the Bill dangers exposing them to “fraud, exploitation, and unsafe practices,” which can find yourself serving to unlawful offshore operators.
“Our sector represents not just entertainment, but the creation of an indigenous, future-ready industry at the intersection of emerging technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Today, thousands of startups, young engineers, and content creators rely on this ecosystem.”
“The only beneficiary of this bill will be the illegal offshore gambling operators. If legitimate Indian businesses are shut down, unregulated actors will fill the vacuum. This will erode state and national tax revenues while leaving Indian users exposed to unregulated platforms,” it added.
Arguing for “progressive regulation and not prohibition,” the our bodies requested a gathering with the minister to current their case and focus on options that might guarantee accountable gaming whereas defending customers and the trade.
The letter was signed by Roland Landers, Chief Executive Officer of AIGF; Joy Bhattacharjya, Director General of FIFS; and Anuraag Saxena, Chief Executive Officer of EGF.