The Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 — a draft legislation aimed at setting ground rules for online gaming platforms. The draft law will have to now see the passage in the Rajya Sabha and then secure the President’s assent in order to take effect. 

Spanning 13 pages and around 35,000 words, the bill describes online money games as those that require users to make a monetary payment to play in hopes of winning money and other rewards.

It also restricts eminent personalities — such as celebrities and influencers — from backing or promoting mobile apps or platforms offering such content. 

The development comes at a time when the central government has time and time again raised concerns about the potential ill effects of such digital offerings on the society, especially the youth.

The Online Gaming Bill — as it is popularly known — is drafted by the Ministry Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 

The bill not only draws sensitive distinctions as between skill-based and luck-based games, but also defines strict penal action against offenders. 

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