In a landmark move to regulate India’s $3.8 billion online gaming industry, the Rajya Sabha today passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which was first approved by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

The bill seeks to ban the operation, facilitation, and advertisement of online games played for money, aiming to curb rising instances of addiction, money laundering, and financial fraud.

The legislation, introduced by Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, bans all money-based online games, including betting apps and fantasy sports, while introducing harsh penalties for violators–up to three years in prison and fines of Rs 1 crore for repeat offences.

It also imposes strict penalties on celebrities and influencers endorsing such platforms, with imprisonment of up to two years and fines up to Rs 50 lakh for first-time violations, escalating to three years and Rs 1 crore for repeat offenses.

But even before the new bill comes into force, a long list of Tollywood and Bollywood actors, cricketers, and social media influencers had already come under police and Enforcement Directorate (ED) scrutiny for endorsing illegal betting platforms such as 1xBet, Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, Betway, Lotus365, and others.

Also Read:Online gaming bill tabled in Lok Sabha after 3.5 years; real-money games face tight scrutiny

Tollywood under spotlight

Earlier in the year, around 29 celebrities were reportedly summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for their alleged involvement in promoting illegal betting applications.

The high-profile crackdown marked one of the most significant actions taken against celebrities. The FIR allegedly included names such as Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati and Prakash Raj, along with apps like A23, Jungle Rummy and others.

Actors including Manchu Lakshmi, Pranitha Subhash, Nidhhi Agerwal and several television personalities were also charged for endorsing platforms such as Yolo247, JeetWin, Junglee Rummy etc.

The ED’s money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) targeted 29 celebrities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with investigators alleging that many of these apps used rigged algorithms to trap users.

Bollywood stars summoned

Several Bollywood stars, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Sunny Leone, Kajal Aggarwal, Mimi Chakraborty, Nargis Fakhri, Kiara Advani and Ranbir Kapoor, were reportedly linked to offshore betting app promotions despite repeated government warnings.

In November 2024, a Public Interest Litigation filed before the Supreme Court named Sunny Leone, Kajal Aggarwal and Mimi Chakraborty, accusing them of endorsing illegal gaming platforms that misled users and caused heavy financial losses. 

Earlier, in 2022, actors such as Nargis Fakhri, Amy Jackson, Kiara Advani, Esha Gupta and Rannvijay Singh Singha were cited for backing offshore betting brands in violation of advisories issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The ministry had warned that such promotions could attract action under the Consumer Protection Act and IT Rules.

Separately, the Enforcement Directorate had in 2023 summoned Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in connection with betting app case, seeking details of payments they reportedly received for promotional activities.

Also Read:Online Gaming Bill 2025 | E-sports, social games to get legal framework as Centre targets RMG platforms, promoters

Cricketers facing ED probe

Prominent cricketers are also reportedly under the scanner.

Suresh Raina was allegedly questioned on August 12 over his ambassador role with 1xBet.

Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh are being probed for surrogate endorsements of 1xBat.

Rohit Sharma, Sourav Ganguly and Hardik Pandya were named in a 2023 PIL for promoting fantasy sports apps during the IPL.

MS Dhoni, Mithali Raj, Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom have also been flagged in earlier PILs for endorsements.

Influencers under scrutiny

Police had also booked YouTubers and Instagram influencers, including Bayya Sunny Yadav, Harsha Sai, and Tasty Teja, accusing them of misleading lakhs of followers through ads for Dafabet, Betway, and Lotus365, with some complaints linking these promotions to significant financial losses and even suicides.

Backdrop to crackdown

The Centre cited alarming figures to justify the legislation–45 crore Indians lose nearly Rs 20,000 crore annually on online games, while the illegal betting market is estimated at Rs 8.3 lakh crore and growing 30 per cent each year. Officials have connected more than 1,000 suicides to frauds tied to betting apps.

Industry bodies such as the All India Gaming Federation warn the blanket ban could shrink valuations by Rs 2 lakh crore and drive users to offshore platforms. Celebrities like Vijay Deverakonda and Prakash Raj have argued their endorsements were of “skill-based” games that were legal in some states, while others said lucrative contracts blinded them to legal risks.