The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Online Gaming Bill, which aims to regulate betting apps and put strict checks on gambling, sources said.

The Bill seeks to bring online gaming platforms under a legal framework and introduce penalties for gambling through digital apps.

The government has been tightening its oversight of the sector in recent years. Since October 2023, a 28% GST has been applied to online gaming, while winnings from games are taxed at 30% from the financial year 2024–25. Even offshore gaming platforms have been brought under the tax net, and agencies have the power to block unregistered or illegal sites.

Last year, new criminal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita came into force, making unauthorised betting punishable with jail terms of up to seven years and fines. States, however, remain the main authority to act against illegal betting and gambling, as “betting and gambling” fall under the State List of the Constitution.

Between 2022 and February 2025, the government blocked over 1,400 betting and gambling websites and apps. To tackle addiction, the Education Ministry has issued advisories to parents and teachers, while the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has directed TV channels to ensure that gaming ads carry disclaimers warning about financial risks and possible addiction.

Officials said the aim is to make the internet — and online gaming in particular — safe, accountable and responsible.

Source: India Today