Online money gaming banned nationwide under new bill

This Bill aims to create a national legal framework to promote and regulate the online gaming sector, including e-sports and social games, while strictly prohibiting online money games. It seeks to protect individuals, especially youth, from the social, financial, and psychological harms of online gambling and to safeguard the integrity of financial systems.

The law affects all persons (including individuals, companies, and financial institutions) who offer, operate, advertise, or facilitate online games in India. It specifically targets operators of online money games, banks and financial institutions facilitating payments for such games, and entities offering e-sports or social games that require registration with the new Authority.

• Prohibits any person from offering, operating, facilitating, or advertising online money games.
• Prohibits banks and financial institutions from facilitating transactions for online money gaming services.
• Establishes an 'Authority' to oversee the sector, recognize e-sports, and register online social games.
• Empowers the Authority to determine whether a specific online game is an 'online money game' or not.
• Requires the Central Government to take steps to recognize e-sports as a legitimate competitive sport and promote online social games for recreation and education.
• Defines 'online money game' as any game played for monetary gain or stakes, excluding e-sports.

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