The Supreme Court has asked the central government to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a nationwide ban on online gambling and betting platforms allegedly operating under the pretext of e-sports and social gaming, according to The Hindu.
A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan instructed the petitioner’s counsel to provide copies of the PIL to government officials and requested Additional Solicitor General V.C. Bharathi to assist the court during the next hearing, set for two weeks later.
The petition, filed by the think tank Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), argues that online gambling has escalated into a nationwide problem, inflicting social, economic, and psychological damage. It urges multiple Union ministries, including Electronics and IT, Information and Broadcasting, Finance, and Youth Affairs and Sports, to collaborate under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 to prohibit gambling platforms disguised as entertainment.
According to the plea, more than 650 million Indians engage in online gaming, generating an annual turnover exceeding ₹1.8 lakh crore (US$21.6 billion), while offshore operators allegedly owe over ₹2 lakh crore in unpaid taxes.
The petition lists six respondents, including four Union ministries, Apple Inc., and Google India Pvt. Ltd., and calls on the RBI, NPCI, and UPI networks to block transactions tied to unregistered gaming platforms. It also requests probes by Interpol, the CBI, and the Enforcement Directorate.
Additionally, CASC raised concerns about celebrity endorsements of unlicensed gaming apps, claiming such promotions contribute to gambling addiction, fraud, and mental health challenges.
