Safe Skill Gaming
New Delhi
The central government has introduced the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, in Lok Sabha. The Bill aims to encourage esports and educational games while banning online money games, betting, and gambling activities.
The Bill defines “esport” as a skill-based online competition between individuals or teams, played under fixed rules, and recognised under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. It clarifies that results in esports depend only on players’ skill, reflexes, and strategies, not on chance.
To promote esports, the government plans to set guidelines for events, open training and research centres, launch awareness programs, and coordinate with states and sports bodies. By distinguishing esports from money games, the Bill provides legal clarity that professional players and gaming companies have long awaited.
Industry leaders welcomed the move. Akshat Rathee, co-founder of NODWIN Gaming, called it a positive step but urged for clearer definitions to avoid confusion between esports, social gaming, and money games. Animesh Agarwal, co-founder of S8UL Esports, said the Bill marks a “historic turning point” that protects esports from gambling links while enabling structured growth.
Indian teams are also gaining international recognition. S8UL recently became the first Indian organisation to be selected for the prestigious Esports World Cup Club Partner Program, joining 40 of the world’s top teams.
Esports has already entered mainstream sports in India, debuting in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025. Several states, including Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland, have started grassroots initiatives, showing esports is now firmly accepted as a legitimate competitive sport.
