India's Supreme Court will begin final hearings on petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which took effect on May 1, 2026, and banned online real-money games nationwide.
The constitutional challenge was filed by Dr K A Paul. He contests the legality of the ban, which covers both games of chance and skill-based games such as poker. Petitioners argue that a blanket prohibition violates constitutional guarantees of the freedom to conduct lawful business.
The court will also hear a petition from the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), an organisation demanding government action against gambling platforms allegedly disguising their services as social gaming and esports. CASC is represented by former Uttar Pradesh police chief Vikram Singh and Shourya Tiwari. They are pushing for action against betting apps that the organisation claims cause social and economic harm.
Petitioner's counsel Virag Gupta told the court that authorities have ignored CASC's petition despite court orders issued last October. The court previously received data on approximately 2,000 gambling apps allegedly violating Indian law by offering betting and games of chance.
India's real-money gaming market was growing before the ban. The outcome of the hearings will decide the fate of the entire sector in the country.
