New Delhi: A bill to ban online gaming played with money was passed within seven minutes by a voice vote, without any debate, by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (August 20) amid opposition protests.Union minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, at noon on Wednesday, August 20. The legislation was approved by the cabinet only on Tuesday, August 19, and added to the revised list of business at night. The House reconvened at 5 pm after being adjourned following the introduction of three bills by Union home minister Amit Shah that give additional powers to the Union government to remove a chief minister or anyone in their cabinet if they are detained in jail for 30 days, even if not convicted. Within seven minutes, Vaishnaw offered brief remarks, following which the bill was passed by a voice vote, and the House adjourned for the day.The bill, according to its statement of reasons and objects, proposes to establish a robust legal framework, not only prohibit online money gaming in the country but also to regulate, promote and encourage the sector for innovation and economic growth and ensure a developed, safe and responsible digital environment for all citizens.In his remarks before the passage of the bill, Vaishnaw said that online gaming had emerged as an important sector in technology, which includes e-sports, online social games and online money games.“As you (Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla) mentioned that many families lose their life’s earnings in online games due to addiction. Financial losses have become rampant, there have been suicides, families have been destroyed,” said Vaishnaw, adding that through these games money laundering and terror support is taking place.The bill says that the “unchecked expansion of online money gaming services has been linked to unlawful activities including financial fraud, money-laundering, tax evasion, and in some cases, the financing of terrorism, thereby posing threats to national security, public order and the integrity of the State.”Vaishnaw said that the government will encourage e-sports, online social games.“This bill gives primacy to society’s welfare and to protect from this harm that has come to society.”The bill defines an online game as, “irrespective of whether such game is based on skill, chance, or both, played by a user by paying fees, depositing money or other stakes in expectation of winning which entails monetary and other enrichment in return of money or other stakes; but shall not include any e-sports.”The bill defines “online money gaming service” as a service offered by a person for entering or playing the online money game.The bill provides that any person who extends such service in contravention of the proposed law shall be punishable with upto 3 years imprisonment, or upto Rs 1 crore fine, or both. A person who engages in advertisement of such online gaming shall be punishable with imprisonment upto 2 years, or fine upto Rs.50 lakhs, or with both.The legislation also provides for the establishment of an authority by the Union government, which will have the authority to suo motu consider whether any online game constitutes an online money game.The bill also gives vast powers to designated officials to “exercise the powers of investigation in respect of offences under this Act.”It states that the Union government may, by notification, authorise any officer or class of officers of the Union government, authority or state government to exercise the powers of investigation in respect of offences under this Act.It empowers officers to “enter any place, whether physical or digital, and search and arrest without warrant any person found therein who is reasonably suspected of having committed or of committing or of being about to commit any offence under this Act.”The provisions of the bill will not only apply to online gaming services in India but also to those operating outside the country.