Finance Desk – The proposed Online Gaming Bill, which is likely to be presented in Parliament today, has caused major worry in the gaming industry.
Three major industry bodies All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asking him to step in and review the Bill.
They warned that if the Bill passes in its current form, millions of genuine players could be pushed towards illegal and unsafe platforms. The industry says this could be the “death knell” for a sector that creates jobs and brings in revenue.
According to experts, the Bill could impact:
Around 4 lakh companies
Over 2 lakh jobs
Investments worth ₹25,000 crore
Annual GST collections of ₹20,000 crore
Some companies fear they may have to shut down without any clear way to earn revenue. Industry leaders say there was no proper consultation with them before drafting the Bill.
They also pointed out that fantasy gaming plays a key role in supporting domestic sports, including small cricket leagues, and that banning it could hurt India’s sports ecosystem.
Big Indian gaming firms like Dream11, Gameskraft, Games24x7, MPL, Nazara Technologies, Zupee, and WinZO say they already follow strict rules and do not engage in illegal activities. They argue that instead of a ban, the government should strengthen the 2023 regulations with better monitoring, as is done in countries like the UK, US, and Australia.
Industry experts also warn that without proper transition plans, a sudden ban could cause disruption, with some companies moving operations overseas and unsafe apps filling the gap leading to loss of taxes and higher risks for users.
