&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Online Gaming Bill 2025: India to ban online gambling, how are other countries dealing with online gambling?")
The Union Cabinet has passed the Online Gaming Bill 2025, to make sweeping legislation to ban all real money games, ie any online game, whether based on skill or chance, where users deposit money with expectations for monetary gain. This is the first centralised legal framework in the country to govern online gaming, with the rising cases of financial fraud, money laundering and celebrity advertisement, as well as potential for possible terror financing.
While real money games are not exactly gambling, the distinction has been blurred in India due to the absence of a centralised legal framework. Usually, the distinction is clear, even though both involve monetary transactions; gambling is based on chance, and real money games can include cases of skill-based games. The government has recognised eSports as a legitimate competitive sport and excludes it from the online money gaming ambit, thus reflecting willingness for a potential licensing regime in future.
Here are five other countries that are dealing with Online Gambling differently
China: Online gambling is banned in China. But some state-run lottery, welfare lotteries and sports gambling is allowed. According to Article 303 of the Chinese criminal code, individuals convicted are subjected to harsh punishment including fines, imprisonment and the death penalty. But in Macau and Hong Kong, gambling, especially online gambling, is regulated.
United States: In the US, online gambling is a complex and evolving landscape. It varies from state to state and is a patchwork of state and federal laws. While some states have banned it, in some states like New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Nevada, online gaming is legal and regulated. There are acts like the Wire Act of 196, which prohibits interstate betting via wired communication with varied interpretations among the Justice Department. Other Federal laws, such as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which bans businesses from knowingly accepting payments connected to unlawful online bets. So there is a license system in place for online casinos, sports betting, online poker, and lotteries are state-run.
England: In England, online gambling is centralised and is managed by a regulator Gambling Commission, with three types of available licenses: operating licenses, personal licenses, and premises licenses. The licenses outline details of advertising, customer protection, and anti-money laundering responsibilities of the operator.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Russia: Russia has banned all online casinos and poker sites. The only exception is online sports betting, which is legal through Russian licensed bookmakers and is registered and regulated under the Federal Tax.
Brazil: Brazil has legalised online gaming and started to regulate sports betting and online casino games in 2023. It was initially legalised in 2018 and was unregulated. An operator wishing to operate online gambling has to obtain a license from the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) under the Ministry of Finance.
