Supreme Court Transfers All Pleas Against Real-Money Gaming Ban to Itself

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear all petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, after transferring cases pending in different high courts to itself.

A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran allowed the Centre’s plea to consolidate the challenges before the apex court.

The legislation, passed by Parliament in August, imposes a nationwide ban on real-money online games, including fantasy sports, and makes violations cognisable and non-bailable offences. It is the first Central law to regulate and prohibit such gaming activities across India, covering both games of skill and chance.High Courts in Karnataka, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh were separately hearing challenges against the Act before the transfer. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, argued that a single hearing before the Supreme Court would save judicial time and ensure consistency.

Gaming companies that had questioned the law did not oppose the transfer. Senior advocate C Aryama Sundaram, appearing for the petitioners, told the bench, “We will be very happy if we get a finality if the Court hears it. I had pressed for an interim order and therefore my lords, please transfer,” Bar and Bench reported.

The Centre, in its petition, maintained that with challenges being heard across multiple jurisdictions, it was appropriate for the Supreme Court to take up the matter to avoid conflicting rulings. The court will now examine the validity of the contentious law.