The Supreme Court of India has commenced a pro bono action initiated by the Center for Responsibility and Systemic Change, which seeks to impose a general ban on online gaming platforms through a judicial order, accusing them of operating under the guise of social games or electronic games.
According to the Indian Times, the court was required to coordinate the interpretation of the Act on the Promotion and Regulation of Online Games 2025 and local legislation with a view to prohibiting online games disguised as social or electric platforms. It is noteworthy that the litigation listed major applications such as Apple and Google India Pty Ltd as respondent, reflecting the role of such platforms as conduits in the mobile user community in India. This judicial action followed the India Parliament’s earlier adoption of the Online Games Promotion and Regulation Act 2025. The bill unexpectedly prohibited money online games, including dream sports and poker, and its regulatory provisions for online games had triggered an industry shock. In its petition, the Centre for Liability and Systemic Change invoked the new statute and called for strong enforcement of websites that caused social and economic damage.
The litigation documents reveal the seriousness of the situation: more than 650 million people across India participate in such online games, forming an annual market size of about Rs. 1.8 trillion (approximately $20.5 billion). The plaintiff stated that about half of the Indian population participated in the 3D online game, which had a negative impact on social, economic and national security. The report reveals the serious consequences of online gambling games, which have become a central driver for the introduction of the new Game Act. The paper quoted the statement of the Indian Minister of Information Technology in Parliament that the formal bill was intended to protect society from unregulated online lottery. The plaintiffs urged the Supreme Court to grant the right to ban the gaming website and its applications without authorization, and called for the establishment of a mechanism to block financial transactions on unlicensed games platforms and to assist in the investigation of tax recovery and operating companies.
If adopted, the guidelines will provide regulatory and law enforcement authorities with more effective tools to dismantle unauthorized online gaming sites and enhance consumer protection.