Indian PM Modi Defends Online Gambling Ban, Says "Future of Our Youth Must be Safeguarded"
- Sagar Mankar
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended the country’s newly enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which bans all forms of real-money gaming.
Speaking on Thursday, Modi clarified that the intention behind the law is not to curb gaming as a whole, but to separate it from gambling. “Gaming is not bad, but gambling is… the future of our youth must be safeguarded,” he said.
The legislation, passed last month, has sparked widespread debate in India’s gaming sector. On one hand, it strictly prohibits real-money fantasy sports and casino-style titles, which generate billions of revenue, while on the other, it actively promotes esports as a cultural and economic opportunity. Modi expressed optimism that India can “dominate the global online gaming market, if done in the right manner,” highlighting that the industry could create significant job opportunities if guided responsibly.
The fallout has already begun for some operators. Mobile Premier League (MPL), one of India’s largest fantasy sports platforms, announced plans to reduce its workforce by nearly 60%. According to local media reports, this cut will shrink the company’s employee count from 500 to around 200, with departments such as legal, marketing, operations, and engineering most affected. Rival platform Dream11 has also felt the pinch. The company recently ended its $41 million sponsorship deal with India’s national cricket team ahead of the Asia Cup. Unlike MPL, Dream11 confirmed it will not cut jobs but will instead shift focus toward free-to-play offerings, advertising, and potential global expansion.
At the same time, the Indian government is signaling strong support for esports. Companies like Krafton, publisher of the hugely popular Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), have already announced fresh investments and new esports events in the country. Modi pointed to esports’ growing global recognition, even at the Olympics, as proof that competitive gaming is the future.
Still, Modi urged caution. He warned that gaming should never cross the line into addictive gambling, noting how widespread betting habits had already started reaching “even housewives.” His message was clear — India wants to nurture gaming talent, but not at the cost of social well-being.