India Supreme Court Reviews Online Gambling PIL

India’s Supreme Court has started reviewing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC). 

The organization that wishes to “make governance accountable” and “ensure the rule of law is enforced and justice is given to all” is now seeking a ban on online gambling platforms that it says hide behind the label of social games or esports.

650M Online Gamblers Generate $20.5B in India 

According to The Hindustan Times, the petition asks the court to direct the government to align national and state laws under the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, so that online gambling and betting games disguised as social or esports games can be prohibited.

The PIL names major tech companies, including Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt Ltd, as respondents.

This legal action allows India’s parliament to give the green light to the act that imposes a ban on all forms of online gaming for real money, including skill-based games like fantasy sports and poker. 

CASC referenced the respective legislation in its petition and asked the court to instruct the government to crack down on apps that are causing social and economic harm.

“Betting and gambling are regarded as unlawful activities in the majority of states in India,” the filing says, according to The Hindustan Times. “Several cases are contested in high courts wherein affidavits were filed by the government and gaming platforms.”

The same sources say that over 65 crore persons (650 million people) “are playing such games, creating annual business of more than ₹1.8 lac crores (US$20.5 billion) for these platforms in India.” In other words, nearly half of the Indian population engages in online gambling, which is adversely impacting society, economy, and national security”.

Preventing the “Serious Evil” from Creeping Into Society 

“The devastating impact of online betting and gambling is endorsed in the objectives of the newly passed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. As per the IT Minister’s speech in Parliament, the Bill was introduced to ensure the welfare of society and to prevent the serious evil that is creeping into society.”

The PIL asks the court to empower authorities to block unlawful betting sites and apps, halt monetary transactions involving unregistered gaming applications, and investigate companies that offer these platforms, including steps to recover taxes.

In August, the county announced a 40% sin tax on gambling and other luxury goods, attracting a lot of criticism from the industry.