Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that gaming, if directed in the correct direction, has the potential to unlock immense international opportunities for India, but gambling needs to be strictly checked in order to protect India’s youth.
Addressing a meeting on September 4, with national award-winning teachers in New Delhi, the Prime Minister welcomed the recently passed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, as a “big decision” to safeguard the young generation from addiction, debt, and social evil.
“Gaming itself is not wrong, but gambling is. Our government prohibited online money games in the face of pressure from influential lobbies, because the future of our children is paramount,” PM Modi stated.
He mentioned that most of the web sites purporting to be games had, in fact, turned out to be gambling sites, causing financial destruction, marital fights, and even suicides. “Lots of individuals were going broke, some even taking their own lives. Whole families were being wrecked. That’s why we stepped in,” he added.
Gaming vs. Gambling
The Prime Minister emphasised that the Act makes a distinction, which is necessary, between digital gaming as a sport and creative activity, and gambling as a social vice. “Unfortunately, they use the term ‘gaming’, but it becomes gambling. That is where the problem is,” he pointed out.
The new law, introduced by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and enacted by Parliament last month, outlaws all online money games. It also forbids banks and financial institutions from enabling transactions on such games and prohibits advertising of real-money gaming. Offenders risk three years in prison or fines up to Rs. 1 crore.
Simultaneously, the Act facilitates eSports and social gaming, paving the way for India to become a world leader in the fast-growing digital entertainment space. Rules and FAQs for its enforcement will be released in the weeks ahead.
Opportunities in the gaming sector
PM Modi encouraged the teachers to inform students about the prospects in the field of online gaming, with the increasing popularity of eSports, even at the Olympic level. “There are enormous employment opportunities in gaming. With the right development, India can lead the world in the online gaming market,” he added.
He added that India’s vast cultural heritage, tradition of storytelling, and traditional games have vast potential for creating original digital content. “Our ancient games and tales can be repurposed into contemporary online forms. Several start-ups are already doing this. If our schools and colleges encourage it, students can create lucrative careers,” the Prime Minister said.
Political will against pressure
The Prime Minister disclosed that “many big forces” were against prohibiting online gambling, but the government remained resolute. “We had political will. We are interested in the future of the country. So, without giving in to anyone’s pressure, we took this decision,” Modi stated.
He insisted that the government’s intention was not to suppress innovation but to shield society against destructive addiction. “Such games were turning into a bad habit. Housewives were joining in, families were falling apart. We needed to take firm action,” he told.
Balanced approach for a digital Bharat
By doing this separation of gaming as a profession of creativity and competition from gambling as a force of destruction, the government wants to both save the vulnerable and enable the ambitious. Modi appealed to teachers to educate children regarding the distinction.
“Teachers can play an important role in ensuring that children use gaming responsibly and pursue it as an option for a career, not addiction,” he said.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 is thus the Centre’s double-pronged strategy: safeguarding India’s youth against exploitation and making the country a destination for game innovation as a responsible gaming hub in the age of digitalisation.
