Online Gaming Bill Passed in Rajya Sabha Amid Opposition Ruckus

Online Gaming Bill 2025: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday, August 21, 2025, approved the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, amid protests from opposition members. The bill was cleared through a voice vote. Deputy Chairman Harivansh announced its approval and adjourned the House for ten minutes.  The Lok Sabha had cleared the bill on Wednesday. The legislation will now be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent.

VIDEO | Parliament on Thursday passed The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha approving it without debate amid din.
The bill, piloted by Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeks to ban all forms of online money games while… pic.twitter.com/mM9oxKOfmO

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2025

The legislation, introduced by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeks to ban all forms of online money games while promoting eSports and online social gaming. Amendments proposed by opposition members were rejected in the Upper House.

The Online Gaming Bill also prohibits advertisements for online money games and bars banks and financial institutions from facilitating or transferring funds for such activities. Online money games are defined as games played by depositing money with the expectation of winning monetary or other rewards.