India’s apex court agrees to hear plea seeking ban on illegal online gambling
The Supreme Court of India on Friday agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding a nationwide ban on “illegal” betting apps and stricter regulation of online gaming and fantasy sports. The plea also calls for the enactment of a comprehensive central law to govern online betting platforms across the country.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh issued a notice to the union government, seeking its response. However, the court refrained from issuing notices to individual state governments at this stage.
PIL filed by activist
The PIL was filed by a petitioner who describes himself as a prominent social activist and humanitarian. In the petition, the activist stated that the plea was filed in the interest of millions of citizens, particularly the youth, who are vulnerable to the harmful effects of unregulated online betting. He claimed the petition aims to protect democracy and public morality in India, according to the local media, NDTV.
Allegations against celebrities and public impact
The petition cited an FIR registered in Telangana in March 2025 against 25 celebrities and influencers, including well-known actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi. These individuals were accused of misleading the public by promoting illegal betting apps.
The complaint, filed on 19 March 2025 by a businessman named PM Phanindra Sarma, states that these celebrities allegedly accepted large sums of money to endorse betting platforms.
Additionally, the petitioner referred to news reports about 24 suicides in Telangana linked to debts incurred from online betting platforms. He argued that these incidents highlight the urgent need for regulatory oversight to prevent financial and mental health crises caused by addictive online betting.
Demand for central legislation
According to the petitioner, there is currently no uniform central legislation to regulate online betting and gambling in India. The PIL pointed out that while many states prohibit gambling under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, online betting apps continue to operate in legal grey areas, often under the guise of skill-based games or fantasy sports.
The plea emphasised that betting—both online and offline—is largely a game of chance and should be treated as gambling under the law. It also alleged that many platforms are exploiting legal loopholes to continue operations without accountability.
