The Supreme Court agreed to listen to on Friday (October 17, 2025) a PIL filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) in search of instructions to the Centre to ban on-line playing and betting platforms that allegedly function beneath the guise of social and esports video games.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Ok. Vinod Chandran took be aware of the submissions of lawyer Virag Gupta, showing for the CASC, on Thursday and agreed to listen to the PIL on October 17.
The plea has sought a route to Union Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology, Information and Broadcasting, Finance and Youth Affairs and Sports “to do a harmonious interpretation of provisions of Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 and laws made by State Legislatures, to prohibit online gambling and betting games operating in the guise of social and esports games.”
The petition, filed on October 13 by means of advocates Virag Gupta and Rupali Panwar, names six respondents, together with 4 Union ministries and the 2 main app retailer operators, Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt. Ltd.
The CASC, represented by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh, and Shourya Tiwari, have urged the highest courtroom to direct the federal government to clamp down on the proliferation of betting and playing functions, which they declare are inflicting widespread social and financial hurt throughout the nation.
“Betting and gambling are regarded as unlawful activities in the majority of the States in India. Several cases are contested in high courts wherein affidavits were filed by the government and gaming platforms. Upon analysing the same, it is reported that more than 65 crore persons are playing such games, creating an annual business of more than ₹1.8 lakh crores for these platforms in India.
“Around half of the Indian population is involved in playing online games, which is adversely impacting society, economy and national security. The devastating impact of online betting and gambling is endorsed in the objectives of the newly passed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. As per the IT Minister’s speech in Parliament, the Bill was introduced to ensure the welfare of society and to prevent the serious evil that is creeping into society,” the PIL mentioned.
‘Unchecked expansion of online gaming’
The plea mentioned this unchecked enlargement of on-line gaming has created what they describe as a “national crisis,” affecting “half of India’s population” and resulting in monetary damage, psychological well being points, and even suicides. The plea has sought a nationwide prohibition on on-line playing and betting platforms working as esports or social video games.
In one of many prayers, it has sought blocking orders beneath Section 69A of the IT Act in opposition to all illegal betting websites and apps.
The plea has sought instructions to the RBI, NPCI, and UPI platforms to disallow any financial transactions involving unregistered gaming functions.
It has sought tax restoration and investigation into offshore gaming corporations by means of Interpol, CBI, and ED, estimated to owe over ₹2 lakh crore in unpaid taxes.
The PIL has additionally sought instructions for defense of knowledge of minors already collected by on-line gaming corporations.
“Top cricketers and film stars are endorsing such unlawful games leading to cyber frauds, addiction, mental health disorder and suicides. As per Union IT Minister, ‘The fraud and cheating algorithms are such that it’s impossible to tell who is playing with whom… algorithms are opaque algorithms…defeat is certain money laundering is taking place…’,” the PIL mentioned.