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The Supreme Court of India has agreed to conduct a final hearing on petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2026, a law that introduced nationwide restrictions on online real money gaming.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi accepted the matter for final hearing on Wednesday and asked the involved parties, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to complete their pleadings before the next stage of proceedings.
The court also agreed to consider a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), which seeks government action against online gambling and betting platforms that allegedly operate under the appearance of social gaming and e-sports services.
The legal challenge comes after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act came into force on May 1, 2026. The legislation introduced a complete ban on Online Real Money Games (ORMG), covering games involving both skill and chance.
One of the central questions raised in the petitions is whether a broad prohibition on real-money gaming, including traditional skill-based games such as rummy and poker, affects the constitutional right to conduct a trade or business.
Petitions Seek Action Against Betting Platforms
The CASC petition has requested directions to several central government ministries, including Electronics and Information Technology, Information and Broadcasting, Finance, and Youth Affairs and Sports.
The organisation is asking for a coordinated interpretation of the online gaming law and existing state legislation to prevent gambling and betting services that allegedly present themselves as social games or e-sports platforms.
During the hearing, lawyer Virag Gupta, representing CASC, informed the court that a previous bench led by Justice J B Pardiwala had requested a response from the central government on October 17, 2025.
Gupta said a list containing around 2,000 gaming applications allegedly involved in betting and gambling activities despite legal restrictions had already been submitted to the court and the government. He added that no response had been filed despite earlier court directions.
CASC, represented by former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Vikram Singh and Shourya Tiwari, has argued that betting and gambling applications are causing social and economic damage across India and require stronger intervention.
The petition filed by CASC also asks authorities to prevent platforms from continuing operations by using alternative classifications such as social gaming or competitive gaming.
Supreme Court Reviews Wider Betting Regulation Requests
Another petition before the court was filed by evangelist and politician Dr. Kilari Anand Paul, who has sought a uniform central framework regulating or prohibiting online and offline betting activities.
The Supreme Court had previously requested responses from several parties, including the central government, Google India, TRAI, Apple India, Dream11, Mobile Premier League and A23 Games.
Paul’s petition argues that unregulated betting services have created financial and social problems, particularly among younger users. The petitioner has also called for restrictions on celebrity and influencer promotions of betting applications, claiming such advertising encourages participation among vulnerable groups.
“I am here on behalf of millions of parents whose children have died in the past couple of years. More than 1,023 people committed suicide in Telangana. The aggressive advertising by actors, cricketers, and influencers misleads youth into gambling, making them financially vulnerable and addicted,” Paul said while seeking court intervention, as reported by the Kashmir Observer.
The petition further claimed that thousands of families across India have experienced financial losses connected to unregulated betting platforms.
It also alleged that some offshore betting services operate as channels for money laundering and undisclosed financial activity, stating: “Investigations reveal that unregulated betting platforms serve as fronts for money laundering and black money transactions, violating the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.”