Online Gaming Bill Cleared in Rajya Sabha by Voice Vote Amid Opposition Protests; Awaits Presidential Assent

New Delhi, August 21: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 through a voice vote, despite noisy protests from opposition benches. Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh announced the bill’s passage and briefly adjourned proceedings for 10 minutes after the uproar.

The legislation, introduced by Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeks to ban all forms of real money online gaming while encouraging the growth of eSports and social gaming in India. The Upper House rejected amendments moved by Opposition members before clearing the bill. The Lok Sabha had approved it a day earlier.

Also Read: Real Money Games Banned: Lok Sabha Clears Online Gaming Bill | 5 Key Takeaways

Key Provisions
Ban on money games: Online money games—defined as games requiring players to deposit money with the expectation of monetary or material rewards—will be prohibited.

No ads, no payments: Advertisements of such games will be banned, and banks and financial institutions will be barred from facilitating transactions.

Push for eSports: The bill formally recognises eSports as a legitimate competitive sport, with guidelines to be framed by the Union Ministry of Sports.

Social gaming boost: The law also promotes educational and cultural games, aligning with Indian values.

Broader Context
The Online Gaming Bill marks a turning point for India’s $3.8 billion gaming industry, which has seen explosive growth through platforms like Dream11, Mobile Premier League, and Games24x7. While the government stresses the bill will curb gambling addiction, money laundering, and financial fraud, it also signals official recognition of eSports as a mainstream industry.

With both Houses of Parliament clearing the legislation, the bill now awaits Presidential assent to become law.