Days after the central authorities imposed a blanket ban on on-line cash video games, main real-money gaming (RMG) platforms have moved swiftly to droop their pay-to-play-to-win companies and have signalled that they won’t mount a authorized battle difficult the prohibition.
Issues over dependancy and its social fallout have been cited by the Centre as a key consider its choice to impose the ban on RMG companies, alongside nationwide safety considerations associated to cash laundering, terror financing, and different illicit transactions flowing by RMG platforms.
“I believe the ban on RMG apps is essential and mandatory. Many individuals have misplaced cash in on-line rummy and different real-money video games, with Tamil Nadu alone reporting 20 to 30 suicides linked to such losses up to now 4 to 5 years,” Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, a psychiatrist who served on the Justice Chandru committee that suggested the Tamil Nadu authorities to ban on-line playing and video games of likelihood in 2022, instructed The Indian Categorical.
The report drafted by the skilled committee, led by retired Madras Excessive Court docket Justice Okay Chandru, was the primary of its variety because it specified by element how dependancy to real-money video games was devastating lives in Tamil Nadu, additional noting that the connection between playing and suicide is well-established.
“I nonetheless bear in mind, a younger boy from a decrease center class household who was 18 or 19, he got here to me and stated he has turn out to be hooked on enjoying real-money video games and that he has misplaced 10 lakhs which he had borrowed from lots of people. He stated that he was attempting to repay his debt by promoting his kidney,” Dr Vijayakumar stated.
The web cash gaming ban was introduced in by central laws titled The Promotion and Regulation of On-line Gaming Act, 2025, which prohibits “the providing, operation, facilitation, commercial, promotion and participation in on-line cash video games.” The ban applies to all classes of video games the place customers stake cash for rewards with the danger of losses, together with poker, rummy, ludo, fantasy sports activities, opinion buying and selling, and extra. It additionally covers offshore RMG platforms offering companies in India.
“Gamblers have the very best suicide charges on this planet as a result of there’s a neuro-biological change that occurs. In that approach, playing dependancy is similar to alcohol or drug dependancy. As soon as they turn out to be addicted, it is extremely troublesome for folks to wean away from them,” Dr Vijayakumar stated.
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Greater than 155 million Indians engaged with actual cash gaming sub-segments akin to fantasy sports activities, rummy, poker and different transaction-based video games in 2024, marking a ten per cent improve over 2023, in accordance with a report by FICCI and EY from March 2025. On a mean, round 110 million folks performed these video games every day final yr.
Dr Vijaykumar stated that even educated, working-class folks have been turning into hooked on real-money video games. Recalling the case of a pair, each of whom have been working within the IT sector, she stated, “That they had all the things, a flat, a automobile, a double-income family. Nonetheless, they obtained addicted and needed to promote all the things.”
“Many housewives are lured by the promise of straightforward cash, beginning with sign-up bonuses. Quickly, they discover themselves pawning rings, then bangles, to maintain enjoying. The issue is common. These video games have been simply accessible 24×7 so the temptation by no means ended. Happily, we didn’t see circumstances of on-line playing dependancy amongst these over 60. Maybe as a result of they aren’t tech savvy sufficient,” she added.
‘Algorithm kills thought of ability’
On-line cash video games usually use manipulative design options, addictive algorithms, bots, and undisclosed brokers to advertise compulsive behaviour amongst customers, main them to monetary wreck, in accordance with the Act.
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“Typically the controversy is whether or not it’s a recreation of likelihood or recreation of ability. That has been the premise on which the courtroom has handed jurisdiction. However there may be actually no ability concerned in most real-money gaming platforms as a result of the gaming corporations management the algorithm. They’ll change the algorithm at any level to maintain you addicted,” Dr Vijayakumar stated.
When questioned if the ban would push addicted customers towards underground playing channels, she dismissed such fears and stated, “We now have to have a look at the final inhabitants. How many individuals are enjoying these video games? What number of of them are so tech savvy to go to the darkish net? Solely a small proportion of great gamblers.”
Nevertheless, Dr Vijaykumar additionally acknowledged that the suddenness of the ban will make it troublesome for addicts to instantly swap to leisure gaming. “However the truth is that they gained’t lose cash. They gained’t get right into a debt lure,” she added.
Stricter measures forward?
In a primary, the brand new Act offers a authorized framework for regulating different types of gaming in India.
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Whereas it prohibits all classes of on-line cash video games, the Act seeks to advertise the event of esports as a legit aggressive sport alongside the event of on-line social video games that will cost subscription or entry charges to play (offered they don’t contain wagering).
When requested if the regulation opens the door to extra curbs akin to time-limits and age restrictions for on-line skill-based video games like battle royale titles, sports activities, and different standard genres, Dr Vijaykumar opined that it might not be a right away precedence however might be thought of sooner or later.
“First, let this occur. Then we should come to how we will educate the folks about proscribing time spent on gaming in addition to social media. There are indicators of hysteria and despair in anybody who spends greater than two hours gaming or on the web. It’s why many international locations help such regulation,” she stated.
China has strict laws that restrict under-18 customers to only one hour of on-line gaming on specified days. Final yr, Australia handed landmark laws banning under-16 customers within the nation from accessing social media.
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In the meantime, trade leaders consider that whereas accountable gaming measures are vital, esports is completely different from informal gaming as it’s extra structured, skill-based, and career-oriented for a lot of gamers.
“Any laws ought to deal with schooling, consciousness, and safeguards reasonably than overly restrictive guidelines that would stifle development. World greatest practices akin to parental controls and digital literacy are the fitting method for India,” Akshat Rathee, the managing director of esports agency Nodwin Gaming, instructed The Indian Categorical.