Real-money gaming ban to be withdrawn? Supreme Court to hold final hearing on PROGA challenge

India’s Supreme Court has agreed to begin final hearings on a batch of petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of the Online Gaming Act, 2025, the central law imposes a blanket nationwide prohibition on online real-money games regardless of whether they involve skill or chance.  

The three-judge bench is comprised of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymala Bagchi and V. Mohana, who directed the parties, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Union government, to complete their pleadings before the matter is taken up for the final adjudication. 

What the Supreme Court will hear: PROGA's nationwide ban faces its final legal Test

The court has decided to hear a public interest litigation, filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), which wants directions to the central government to stop the online gambling and betting platforms that the petitioner alleges operate under the guise of e-sports games.

Advocate Virag Gupta, while appearing for the CASC, revealed to the bench that a separate bench led by Justice J.B. Pardiwala had previously directed the Centre to respond to the plea, and that a list of 2000 game applications was noted to be running betting and gambling operations in India, despite the law having already been submitted to both the bench and the government.

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The Act was passed by the Parliament on 21st August 2025 and got presidential assent on the following day, with the government notifying May 01 as its beginning. It bans the offering and advertising of real-money games and bars banking services connected to them. On the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, these ban puts a massive effect.  

What is India's real-money gaming ban? Inside the promotion and regulation of online gaming act

India’s real-money gaming (RMG) ban is a federal prohibition, established under the Promotion and Regulation of the Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, with the rules being enforced on May 01, 2026. The law puts a blanket ban on all games on online platforms involving monetary stakes or entry fees.

The ban prohibits cash-based platforms from participating in real-money contests, cash leagues, and betting formats. The ban has been imposed on advertisements for real-money gaming apps, penalizing celebrity endorsers and influencers.

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The platform operators will face up to three years of imprisonment and fines reaching INR 1 crore, while the endorsers and influencers risk up to two years' imprisonment, and penalties can go up to INR 50 lakh.