Govt. set to introduce Bill to ban real money gaming firms , Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Union Cabinet approved the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 to prohibit real money games (RMGs) online.
• The Bill targets a multi-billion dollar industry including fantasy sports platforms like Dream11 and card game apps such as PokerBaazi.
• The Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.
• The definition of “online money gaming” includes depositing money with the expectation of winning monetary returns.

Detailed Insights:

• The government did not circulate a draft Bill prior to the Cabinet approval, unlike the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
• RMG firms have resisted previous government attempts to regulate them, including opposing the GST Council’s decision to increase taxes on RMG deposits.
• Industry bodies have previously obtained stays on bans at the State level, such as in Karnataka, highlighting the legal challenges involved in regulating RMGs.
• The Bill aims to prohibit a vast range of RMGs by defining online money gaming as any activity involving monetary stakes with the expectation of winning.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Real Money Games (RMGs): Online games where players deposit money with the expectation of winning monetary returns.
• GST Council: A body that makes recommendations to the Union and State Governments on issues related to Goods and Services Tax.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Indian law that governs the processing of digital personal data.