India’s booming gaming business has been shocked by the proposed Online Gaming Ban Bill 2025, which was released in New Delhi on August 20, 2025. Stakeholders have warned that 2 lakh jobs could be lost and that nearly 400 startups could shut down. The debate has now moved into the political stage, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticizing the government’s decision.
Concerns Are Raised About Blanket Ban in Business
Industry groups say that the bill’s complete ban on real-money online games could cost the government ₹20 crore in tax income every year. They are also worried that Indian players will move to offshore sites that are not regulated, which would put them at risk of fraud, money laundering, and data breaches.
Several gaming groups have written to Home Minister Amit Shah to ask him to rethink the bill. They want a regulated framework instead, which would protect jobs and investments in India’s startup environment and keep consumers safe.
400 new businesses and 2 lakh jobs are in danger.
One of the fastest-growing digital businesses in India is online gaming, which has brought in investments and created jobs. Experts say that a blanket ban would hurt the environment and force small and medium-sized businesses to shut down. If the bill becomes law, it could mean the end of jobs for nearly 2 lakh workers, such as developers, marketers, and designers.
Shashi Tharoor’s Backlash in Politics
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor added political weight to the debate when he used X (formerly Twitter) to question the way the government was handling the situation.
“No lessons learned from other places.” Any kind of ban will only send people to unsafe sites overseas, which will destroy jobs and revenue in the United States. Not banning things is what we need, but smart rules. — This is Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor)
A lot of people in the business agree with what he said. They think that regulation with safeguards is better than outright bans.
Calls for Rules Instead of Prohibition
Instead of putting a ban, policy experts say the government should work with leaders in the industry to come up with strict rules, licensing systems, and ways to keep an eye on things. This would keep people safe, stop people from becoming addicted, and still let India gain from the digital economy.
The Online Gaming Ban Bill 2025 is likely to be brought up in Parliament soon. Now, everyone is watching to see how the government handles the growing resistance and complaints from business leaders.
