Rajya Sabha has passed the Online Gaming Bill, which is called the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, by voice vote. It was tabled in the Upper House by the Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw amid sloganeering by opposition MPs. It was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, August 20. The Monsoon session has ended as both the Houses have been adjourned sine die amid ruckus in the Parliament.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh read out the Online Gaming Bill in the House and put it to a voice vote, asking members in favour to say “aye” and those opposed to say “no”.
This comes after a Congress leader said that the Chair must listen to what he has to say, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju requested the Chair to take up the Bill for voting.
One of the opposition MPs can be heard saying that they have been stripped of their democratic rights, to which the Deputy Chairperson said that “none of this is going on record”.
Online Gaming Bill
The Bill, introduced by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, aims to impose a blanket ban on online money-based games while encouraging eSports and social gaming. It also seeks to block advertisements for such games and prevent banks and financial institutions from processing related transactions.
Describing online money games as those requiring players to deposit funds in the hope of winning cash or other rewards, the legislation labels them “harmful” and prohibits both their services and financial dealings connected to them. Amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected.
Once this Bill becomes an Act, online money gaming will be punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years and/or a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.