The Supreme Court of India has taken up a significant legal challenge against the online gambling and gaming industry, issuing notices to state governments, national regulators, and major technology companies in response to a public interest litigation (PIL).
The petition demands a complete ban on illegal betting applications and calls for the establishment of a unified legal framework to strictly regulate online gaming and fantasy sports.
The Bench, led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, has formally requested responses from a wide range of stakeholders.
Government bodies put on notice include the Reserve Bank of India, the Enforcement Directorate, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, and the Chief Secretaries of all state governments.
The court has also sought responses from key private entities, including Google India, Apple India, and prominent gaming platforms Dream 11, MPL (Mobile Premier League), and A23 Games. The Supreme Court of India may consider issuing interim directions at the next hearing.
The PIL was filed by Dr. Paul, a social activist, who argues that many fantasy sports and online games often serve as fronts for unregulated betting. The petition contends that since betting is a game of chance rather than skill, it should fall under the country’s gambling prohibitions.
It highlights the severe social harms associated with the industry’s rapid growth, referencing a police report in Telangana involving public figures accused of promoting betting apps, as well as reports of 24 suicides in that state linked to online gambling debt.
The case underscores the growing concern over the absence of a central law to regulate these popular applications, particularly among India’s youth.
