Supreme Court to Hear Plea on Transfer of Online Gaming Act Cases
The Central government has approached the Supreme Court seeking to transfer all petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 from different High Courts to the apex court.
Currently, cases questioning the law’s validity are pending before the High Courts of Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. The Centre argued that since all petitions raise similar constitutional issues, they should be heard together by the Supreme Court to avoid conflicting judgments.
A government counsel mentioned the plea before Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, who agreed to list the matter next week. The Centre has also requested a temporary stay on proceedings before the High Courts until the Supreme Court decides on consolidation.
The Online Gaming Act, 2025 is the first central law to impose a nationwide ban on online money-based games, regardless of whether they involve skill or chance. Offences under this Act are classified as cognisable and non-bailable.
Petitions filed against the law argue that it violates Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution and wrongly treats games of skill at par with games of chance. The Centre, however, maintains that an authoritative ruling from the Supreme Court is essential since the matter involves questions of public and constitutional importance.
By bringing all petitions under one forum, the government says, the legal process will be faster and more consistent, preventing delays caused by multiple parallel proceedings.
