India Supreme Court discusses ban on fantasy sports and real-money skills

The Supreme Court of India is considering the prospect of banning online gaming and betting platforms, which will cause a major shift in the gaming industry within the country.

A petition calling for the closure of all online and offline betting sites, including those sponsored by celebrities, due to rising worries about addiction and financial harm, brought the discussion to the highest court.

In response, the court has sent formal notices to state governments requesting their input on the proposal for a complete ban. Millions of Indian gamers and the rapidly expanding online gaming market may be impacted by the August 18th court hearing.

Whether popular fantasy sports and real-money skill games should be subject to a broad ban is a major focus of the Supreme Court’s review.

Despite prior high court decisions upholding online rummy, poker, and fantasy platforms as skill-based, constitutionally protected activities, state laws in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have targeted these platforms by classifying them as gambling.

Senior legal experts who represent gaming companies and fantasy sports associations argue that these competitions are not just games of chance and that players use strategy, statistics, and knowledge to win.

It is argued that prohibiting these games would violate both constitutional protections for trade and profession and well-established legal precedents.

Legal experts also contend that states might be going beyond their bounds in trying to regulate online platforms. By outlawing an online skill game while allowing its offline counterpart, current legislation also exhibits inconsistencies.

The Supreme Court now has to determine whether online gaming, including fantasy sports and skill-based cash contests, will survive or face extensive restrictions in India’s digital future. It will do this by considering both recent arguments and previous rulings.