Online Gaming Bill, 2025 handed in Rajya Sabha: ‘Whole annual losses pegged at ₹20,000 crore,’ says Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 was handed within the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. While tabling the Bill within the Upper House, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday stated that round 45 crore folks in India lose cash on on-line gaming platforms.

He additionally stated that the whole annual losses as a consequence of on-line gaming are pegged to be round ₹20,000 crore. 

The Union Minister additional stated that on-line video games are additionally used for cash laundering and supporting terror actions in opposition to India. Vaishnaw additionally stated that the federal government will act in opposition to “big people” making an attempt to affect by means of media and social media. 

Earlier within the day, he emphasised the federal government’s efforts over the previous 3 years once they had been “deeply engaged” with the gaming business.

Speaking to ANI, Vaishnaw defined that the Bill’s goal is to “promote and encourage the good parts” of on-line gaming, specializing in making India a hub of sport improvement by means of establishments such because the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT). 

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill was handed within the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bill goals to advertise esports and on-line gaming, whereas outlawing on-line cash gaming. 

The Bill prohibits dangerous on-line cash gaming companies, advertisements, and monetary transactions associated to them. It additionally goals to fully ban providing, working or facilitating on-line cash video games, no matter whether or not primarily based on ability, likelihood or each. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on the NDA assembly that the Monsoon session was productive as a number of essential payments had been handed. Singling out the Online Gaming Bill, Modi referred to as it a reform with “far-reaching impact” that will immediately affect the general public. 

He additionally criticised the Opposition for staying away from debates on main laws. “They only remianed engaged in creating disruptions,” Modi stated, as per sources.