Online Gaming Bill Becomes Law with President’s Assent
Legislation bans all games played for money while promoting e-sports and online social gaming, sparking major changes in the industry.
- The Online Gaming Bill has received the President’s assent.
- It is now a law that bans all games played with money.
- The law promotes e-sports and online social gaming.
- Several platforms have suspended real-money operations.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 22nd Aug: The Online Gaming Bill has received the President’s assent, becoming a law, a day after it was passed by Parliament. Both Houses of Parliament cleared the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill to ban all forms of games played with money, and promote e-sports and online social gaming. The assent will follow a notification that will announce the date on which the Bill will come into effect.
The government has asserted that online money gaming has become a serious social and public health issue, causing demonstrable negative impact on society. At the same time, the Centre has thrown its weight behind promoting e-sports and social gaming, and wants to position India as a global hub for game development. After Parliament gave its nod to the Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it would save society from the harmful effects of online money games.
“This Bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament, highlights our commitment towards making India a hub for gaming, innovation and creativity. It will encourage e-sports and online social games,” PM Modi said, adding, “At the same time, it will save our society from the harmful effects of online money games.”
Several platforms, such as WinZO and Nazara Technologies-backed Moonshine Technologies (PokerBaazi), suspended their real-money online gaming operations after the bill was passed by the Parliament. The legislation is designed to curb addiction, financial ruin and social distress caused by predatory gaming platforms that thrive on misleading promises of quick wealth.
