Supreme Court to Hear Petition Seeking Ban on Online Betting Apps in India

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court of India demanding a nationwide ban on online betting applications.

The petition, brought forward by Dr. K.A. Paul—President of the Global Peace Initiative—raises serious concerns about the growing influence of digital gambling platforms in India, especially among youth and financially vulnerable users. The core argument is that many of these apps, often packaged as "fantasy sports or skill-based games," are essentially unregulated gambling tools in disguise.

To strengthen the case, the PIL highlights two recent developments. One is an ongoing probe involving 25 celebrities—including prominent actors (Rana Daggubati, Vijay Devarakonda, Prakash Raj), cricketers, and influencers—who are allegedly promoting betting apps without disclosing their ties. The second cites a heartbreaking incident from Telangana, where 24 individuals reportedly died by suicide due to online betting-related debts.

Dr. Paul argues that India currently lacks a unified framework to govern digital gambling, leading to inconsistent enforcement across states.

AI Image via Grok illustrating fantasy gameplay via mobile apps

According to a report by Dot Esports, the Supreme Court has already begun consultations with several authorities, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Furthermore, major stakeholders in the tech and gaming industries—Google, Apple, Dream11, MPL, and A23 Games—have been asked to provide clarity on their roles and compliance measures.

Interestingly, this development comes at a time when Google is re-evaluating its Real Money Games (RMG) policy in India. While earlier plans to expand RMG were put on hold due to legal ambiguity, the tech giant is now facing scrutiny again after the ED summoned its representatives in a suspected money laundering case linked to betting apps available on the Play Store.

Currently, only three Indian states—Goa, Daman, and Sikkim—have regulated online gambling. Karnataka had floated a partial framework, but it notably excludes sports betting, instead focusing on games like rummy and fantasy contests. This inconsistent regulatory environment has left the sector fragmented, with some state-level rules clashing with constitutional protections. There's another case addressing that issue as well.

The Supreme Court has sent notices to all state governments seeking feedback. The next major hearing is scheduled for August 18, and it could lead to a landmark decision—either pushing for a unified national regulatory system or initiating a comprehensive ban with wide-reaching consequences across gaming, sports, and tech sectors.