The Supreme Court of India has asked the central government to respond to a petition seeking a nationwide ban on online gambling and betting platforms disguised as e-sports and social games. A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan directed the petitioner to share the PIL with government officials and asked Additional Solicitor General V.C. Bharathi to assist when the case is heard in two weeks.

The petition, filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), says online gambling is a growing national problem causing social, economic, and mental health harm. CASC urges the government to regulate or ban such platforms to protect people, especially the youth, from gambling addiction.

PIL Calls for Strict Government Action

The CASC petition has asked several Union ministries, including Electronics and IT, Information and Broadcasting, Finance, and Youth Affairs and Sports, to take proper action against illegal gaming platforms. The group wants these ministries to work together under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 to stop gambling activities that are disguised as harmless entertainment.

The petition says over 65 crore Indians play online games, creating a business worth more than Rs 1.8 lakh crore (US$21.6 billion) each year. It also claims offshore gaming companies owe India over Rs 2 lakh crore in unpaid taxes. CASC argues that weak national regulation allows illegal betting to continue and believes that only a central ban with stricter enforcement can protect people from addiction and financial losses.

Financial and Legal Measures Proposed

The petition names six respondents, including four Union ministries along with Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt. Ltd., which host gaming apps on their app stores. It has also requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and UPI platforms to block financial transactions linked to unregistered gaming applications.

The petition also asks agencies like Interpol, the CBI, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate illegal gaming networks. CASC says that without stricter financial rules and international cooperation, these platforms will keep avoiding Indian laws.

Concerns Over Celebrity Endorsements and Social Impact

The petition also raises concerns about celebrity endorsements of online gaming and betting apps. It claims that several popular figures have promoted illegal platforms, indirectly encouraging gambling habits among young people. CASC says these endorsements have worsened issues such as addiction, financial fraud and mental health problems.

The Supreme Court’s involvement could be important for online gaming rules in India. The next hearing in two weeks may show the government’s position. The decision could affect the future of India’s growing online gaming and betting industry, which now sits between entertainment and gambling.