India Moves to Ban Online Gambling, Citing Addiction, Terror Financing Risks
A parliamentary bill seeking to ban online gambling was introduced by India’s government on Wednesday, citing concerns over addiction, financial fraud, and alleged links to money laundering and terrorism financing.
The legislation, presented in the lower house of parliament, proposes to outlaw websites and apps offering games where users pay entry fees or stake money in the hope of winning cash rewards. If passed, violators, both individuals and companies, would face prison terms or fines.
Lawmakers backing the bill argued that the industry’s “unchecked expansion” has created widespread social and financial harm, particularly among young players, and has been tied to “financial fraud, money laundering… and in some cases, the financing of terrorism.”
The move threatens India’s booming multi-billion-dollar online gaming industry, which includes poker, fantasy sports, and the country’s hugely popular fantasy cricket platforms. Several of these platforms sponsor the Indian Premier League (IPL) and even the national cricket team.
Industry groups, however, have strongly opposed the proposal. The All India Gaming Federation and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports warned that shutting down regulated domestic platforms could backfire, pushing millions of players toward offshore gambling sites and unregulated operators.
“Instead of protecting people, this bill risks exposing them to fraud, exploitation, and unsafe practices,” the groups said in a joint letter on Tuesday.
The bill will be debated in parliament before a final decision is made.
Punch
