From Blanket Bans to Blanket Regulations: Still No Differentiation on the Horizon

Blanket Online Gaming Regulation Bill Proposed

After a period marked by skirmishes between state governments and high courts over the constitutionality of blanket bans on online gaming, resulting in a number of outright prohibitions to offer games online getting struck down by the judiciary system, the Online Gaming (Regulation) Bill, 2022, was tabled at the Lok Sabha proposing a blanket regulatory framework over India’s gaming sector.

In its essence, the Bill has a blanket character as it proposes regulation under one umbrella of all modes of cyberspace gaming – ranging from online casino games for real money to casual gaming and esports containing certain real money features. Moreover, the Bill makes no distinction between the old categories of skill-based and chance-based gaming.