Weeks ago, concerns over online gambling began making noise in the Philippines, with fears over its links to addiction and other major social problems.
While opinions remain divided on whether it should be regulated or completely banned, different sectors agree that the issue needs an urgent solution.
In India, in terms of the problem, it is almost the same.
Recently, its government submitted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, aiming to ban all real-money games due to the growing threat of addiction.
Online money games are comparable to online gambling in the Philippines. Here, players use real money to join online games in exchange for the chance to win bigger amounts.
Under the draft bill, all online games with real-money transaction features will be strictly prohibited.
Banks, financial institutions, and even individuals will also be banned from processing any transactions related to these services.
Violators could face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to ₹10 million, roughly ₱6 million.
Celebrity endorsers or just even individuals promoting the said platform are also not exempted from punishment, facing up to ₹5 million, equivalent to ₱3 million.
According to data from venture capital firm Lumikai, real-money gaming is the main revenue driver of India’s gaming industry, projected to reach a market value of $3.6 billion by 2029.
But alongside this growth comes rising reports of psychological distress and financial harm, including cases of individuals taking their own lives after losing huge sums of money.
Back in 2023, India already imposed a 28% tax on online gaming, but the problem continues to persist.