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In a historic turn of events, esports is now recognized as a legitimate form of competitive sports in India under the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025. This historic bill clearly differentiates between real-money games and skill-based games, such as BGMI, Valorant, and Free Fire Max. Additionally, the bill prohibits all real-money games in the country, carrying penalties of up to 3 years in jail and fines of up to ₹1 Crore.
What is the Online Gaming Bill 2025?
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, August 20, and with the approval of President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, August 22, the bill has now become law in India. This bill bans all real money games, such as fantasy apps, betting platforms, and other apps or websites where players earn money by playing with money. It prohibits the offering, operation, promotion, advertisement, and participation in such online money games.
On the other hand, the bill clearly differentiates the skill-based games from the real money games. The bill seeks to promote and regulate esports, educational games, and social games.
What does it mean for e-athletes?
Under the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, esports will now be officially recognized as competitive sports in India, like cricket, football, kabaddi, and more. This opens a lot of big opportunities for many esports players in India. With the official recognition of the government, an esports athlete is now a legitimate career option in the country.
Many people think esports is just about playing video games with other players for fun, but actually, the reality is different. Esports athletes like Jonathan, Scout, SK Rossi, Charanjot, Learn, and Saumraj are earning in lakhs by salaries, esports tournament prize pools, and content creation. This bill will give a boost to the rapidly growing esports in India.
Impact of the bill on esports
“E-sport” means an online game played as part of multi-sport events and involves organized competitive events between individuals or teams, conducted in multiplayer formats governed by predefined rules and recognized under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
Outcomes of e-sports are determined solely by players’ skills, such as physical dexterity, mental agility, or strategic thinking. Participation may involve entry fees and performance-based prizes, but no bets, wagers, or gambling are allowed.
The Central Government will take necessary steps to recognize and register e-sports as a legitimate competitive sport in India and to promote its growth. These steps may include setting guidelines for events, establishing training and research institutions, introducing incentives and awareness programs, coordinating with State Governments and sports federations, and implementing other measures to support the development of the sector.
“Online money game” means any online game, based on skill, chance, or both, where a user pays fees, deposits money, or stakes something with the expectation of winning monetary or other rewards. This definition does not include e-sports.
No person shall offer, promote, or engage in online money games or online money gaming services. Similarly, no person shall create, cause, or be involved in any advertisement in any media, including electronic communication, that directly or indirectly encourages participation in online money games or promotes online money gaming.
