SC to listen to all challenges on Online Gaming Act after Centre’s plea

In a major improvement on Monday, the Supreme Court ordered that every one circumstances pending in numerous High Courts difficult the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 be transferred to the apex court docket for joint listening to.

A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan allowed the Centre’s switch petition, bringing collectively issues presently pending earlier than the High Courts of Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. The bench directed that data from all three High Courts be transferred digitally inside one week.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, showing for the Union authorities, argued that consolidation was crucial since comparable petitions had already been thought of by the identical bench and “it would be much easier to conclude the matter” in the event that they had been heard collectively. Senior Advocate C. Aryama Sundaram additionally pressed for pressing switch, stressing that digital consolidation of all proceedings would guarantee effectivity.

Justice Pardiwala, whereas permitting the plea, clarified that if any contemporary petitions difficult the validity of the regulation are filed in different courts, they too have to be immediately introduced earlier than the Supreme Court. “If there are any challenges to the validity of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, the same must not be entertained and must be transferred to the Supreme Court,” the bench directed.

The Union authorities had filed its switch petition late final week, citing the chance of contradictory rulings from a number of High Courts. The Act, handed by Parliament earlier this yr and signed into regulation by the President, imposes a blanket ban on on-line video games involving real-money stakes. The laws makes providing or collaborating in such video games a cognisable and non-bailable offence and doesn’t differentiate between video games of ability and probability—an omission that has provoked sharp criticism from gaming corporations and business our bodies.

The authorized challenges have been spearheaded by a number of of India’s main gaming platforms and business teams. Head Digital Works, which operates the A23 platform, has petitioned the Karnataka High Court. In Delhi, Bagheera Carrom (OPC) Pvt. Ltd., a member of the E-Gaming Federation, has filed its plea. Meanwhile, Clubboom 11 Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., affiliated with the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), has challenged the Act earlier than the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Monday’s order successfully consolidates these issues earlier than the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a decisive ruling on the constitutional validity of the controversial regulation.

The petitioners argue that the 2025 Act is extremely vires, obscure, and disproportionate, violating elementary rights beneath Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution. They contend {that a} blanket ban disregards judicial precedents which have upheld skill-based gaming as a legit enterprise exercise.