Service area: Santa Cruz, Monterey, santa clara & san benito county
- we have 31 reviews!
Service area: Santa Cruz, Monterey, santa clara & san benito county
- we have 31 reviews!
Cross-border jurisdiction issues further complicate the landscape of online gambling regulations. When operators offer services in multiple regions, conflicting laws may emerge, creating confusion for both operators and consumers. This situation intensifies the need for international cooperation to create cohesive regulatory frameworks. Across the globe, current trends in online gambling regulations reflect an ongoing evolution driven by technology and changing societal attitudes. Many jurisdictions are actively updating their legal frameworks to keep pace with the rapid advancements in digital platforms and to enhance consumer protections. These compliance requirements not only protect consumers but also uphold the integrity of the online gambling industry.
This discrepancy can result in legal challenges, especially when players seek to resolve disputes or when regulatory bodies attempt to enforce their laws across borders. Operators are required to provide players with tools to manage their gambling activities effectively. These include features for setting deposit limits, time-out periods, and self-exclusion options, which help mitigate the risks of gambling addiction.
Several online platforms were found to have links to “financial fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and terror funding”. Also, with many of the operators mostbet official website based offshore, it becomes difficult to enforce state rules and taxes, the lawmakers said. Indian lawmakers feel an outright ban on online money gaming would be more effective than regulation, considering the financial ruin caused to many households through “manipulative design features and addictive algorithms”, according to the media statement. Starting late the Indian government has explained about the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in E-Commerce Sector of India.
Reflecting these dangers, 32 cases of suicide attributed to online gaming addiction have been reported in Karnataka in the past 31 months. Moreover, active participation in discussions regarding online gambling regulations can lead to more balanced legislation. By engaging in dialogue with regulators, industry professionals can contribute to the evolution of regulations that reflect the needs of both the market and consumers. Nazara Technologies Ltd., which has invested US$122 million (over ₹800 crore) in PokerBaazi, saw its shares dip 2% on Thursday (August 21) and has fallen about 15% since the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha. “Nazara has no direct exposure to real money gaming (RMG) businesses,” the firm said in a filing with bourses. The legislation will apply to the whole of India and also to online money gaming service offered within the territory of India or operated from outside the territory of India.
Furthermore, the Karnataka High Court in Gameskraft Technologies Private Limited v. DGGIvheld that rummy, whether played with or without stakes, is a game of chance and does not constitute betting or gambling. The Act prohibits offering or playing online money games, regardless of whether they are games of skill or chance, and categorises violations as cognisable and non-bailable offences. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Centre’s plea seeking transfer of all challenges against the Online Gaming Act from various High Courts to the apex court. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act promotes e-sports and other online games, barring all forms of online money games. As jurisdictions adapt to the rapid growth of online gambling, compliance and consumer protection remain paramount.
The implementation of online gambling regulations faces numerous challenges that complicate enforcement and compliance. Regulatory enforcement emerges as a significant obstacle, as varying interpretations of laws across jurisdictions often lead to inconsistency in how regulations are applied. Additionally, the rise of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology is influencing regulatory discussions. Governments are exploring how to incorporate these digital currencies into existing frameworks, addressing issues like taxation, transparency, and security. Developing suitable regulations for these innovative payment systems will be critical for the future of online gambling regulations. As online gambling becomes more globalized, regulatory bodies are seeking to establish common standards and protocols to facilitate cross-border gaming.
Therefore, determining whether the games offered by online gaming platforms are betting, gambling, or wagering would depend upon whether such games are games of skill or games of chance. Hence, it has become crucial to understand the connotation of these terms in the context of online gaming. Both states have enacted laws that ban all forms of online gaming involving real money, regardless of whether the game is one of skill or chance. These laws reflect a more conservative approach to gambling and gaming, driven by concerns over addiction and social harm. The Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, 1930 and the Tamil Nadu City Police Gaming Rules, 1949, regulate gaming activities in the state.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, passed by the Indian Parliament, aims to protect citizens from the financial and social risks of online money games while promoting constructive digital activities. The bill prohibits all online money games, regardless of whether they are based on skill or chance, and makes it a punishable offense to offer, facilitate, or advertise them. The legislation establishes a national authority to oversee the sector and enforce strict penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for non-compliance.
Their involvement is pivotal in addressing cross-border challenges and harmonizing regulations across different regions. Ensuring cooperation among these key entities fosters a safer and more regulated online gambling environment. Understanding the complexities of online gambling regulations is essential for both operators and players alike. This framework not only governs local practices but also addresses the challenges posed by cross-border jurisdictions and rapid technological advancements. The Online Gaming Bill proposes a complete ban on offering, operating or facilitating online money games, irrespective of whether based on skill, chance, or both. The rapid spread of online money games has created serious risks for individuals, families and the nation.
The Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2008, was one of the first state laws to specifically address online gaming. The Act allows for the issuance of licenses for both games of skill and games of chance, although later amendments have restricted these licenses to intra-state players. For instance, games such as rummy, poker, and fantasy sports are often categorized as skill-based and are thus permitted in several states under the online gaming laws in India. Conversely, games of chance, which rely predominantly on luck, are often restricted or banned to mitigate potential risks. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 marks a pivotal shift in India’s approach to digital gaming.
As per the Indian legal framework, games that rely on skill, like rummy and poker, are exempt from gambling regulations, while games of pure chance remain heavily regulated. However, determining where a game falls on this spectrum has sparked numerous legal disputes. In India, the regulatory approach to Gaming and Gambling Laws reflects a curious dichotomy between central and state laws.
The coming months will be crucial as the industry restructures, investors realign, and India’s gaming future shifts focus from money-based formats to eSports and social gaming. The petition contends that this abrupt legislative action has disrupted employment, caused the loss of crores in investment, and jeopardized the livelihood of over two lakh employees across the industry. Major Indian companies focused on online real-money gaming, such as Dream11, My11Circle, Khelo Fantasy, WinZO, Games24x7, and Junglee Games, will be directly impacted. These companies have collectively attracted over ₹25,000 crore in foreign investments and employ hundreds of thousands of people. “While this chapter pauses here, we remain hopeful that the future will once again allow us to celebrate the game we all love,” the PokerBaazi statement added.
Gaming firms opposed this move, claiming that their platforms were skill based, and termed retrospective taxes as unfair and damaging. The Supreme Court (SC) this year granted a stay on notices issued to online gaming companies. The top court’s decisions on whether fantasy sports, poker and rummy should be treated as games of skills or gambling, and on retrospective tax for RMG firms, are awaited. The Central government has requested the SC for one more week to file submissions in the GST dispute on online gaming, with industry players arguing that games of skill cannot be equated with gambling.
While justified by social protection and security concerns, the legislation eliminates a multi-billion dollar industry and hundreds of thousands of jobs. The law's broad approach conflicts with decades of court precedents protecting skill-based games, creating an uncertain regulatory environment that may face future legal challenges. The Indian Parliament has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, completely banning all online games involving real money. This groundbreaking legislation, which received Presidential approval on August 22, marks a dramatic shift from the government's previous supportive stance toward the gaming industry.
Depending on the nature of the games offered by these platforms, they may be classified as either ‘games of skill’ or ‘games of chance’. In this case, the petitioner argued that Dream 11, a fantasy sports platform, should be classified as a game of chance and thus subject to gambling prohibitions. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled in favour of Dream 11, holding that the platform involves a significant degree of skill and is therefore legal. This judgement has been instrumental in establishing the legality of fantasy sports in India. However, the Act does not specifically address online gaming, leaving the legal status of such activities uncertain.
However, the IT Act does not contain specific provisions for online gaming, leading to ambiguity and the need for state-level interventions. The passage of the Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha has set the stage for a ban on real-money gaming apps in India. While the government justifies the move as a step toward user protection and national security, it poses an existential threat to companies like Dream11, MPL, and Games24x7. After investigating the gaps in state legislation governing online gaming, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology proposed new regulations in April 2023 to safeguard online gamers from addiction and malicious material.
However, this is still subject to state-level interpretations, creating a multifaceted web of regulations. This patchwork of regulations leads to what many have called a “legal grey area,” where online gaming companies often find themselves navigating murky waters. While “gaming” often refers to skill-based activities, gambling typically centers around chance.
There are various websites or applications that allow people to gamble online whereas Teen Patti and Rummy Draw are the card games that are popular among Indians. It has been observed that if any online activity requires skill then it will be considered gaming whereas any activity that relies on chance is considered gambling. In the Public Gambling Act, 1867, no provisions were provided regarding online-based gambling whereas there is another Act, Information Technology Act, 2000, that identifies web-based wagering and gaming but it does not mention online gambling. As mentioned above, gambling is a State subject; therefore, states make their own laws for the same.
The jurisprudence pertaining to games of skill v. games of chance remains the epicentral force in regulating this sector. The Gambling Act serves as the central statute prohibiting betting and gambling, with certain exceptions for lotteries and skill-based games. Under entry 34 of list II, state legislatures are empowered to enact laws prohibiting gambling, and many states have done so by framing their own regulations.
