The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a petition calling for a nationwide ban on "illegal" betting applications and for the establishment of stringent regulations on online gaming and fantasy sports. The plea also seeks the formulation of a comprehensive central law governing these activities.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh issued a notice to the Central Government, seeking its response. However, the Court refrained from issuing notices to state governments at this stage.

Filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the petition has been submitted by an individual who identifies himself as a prominent social activist and the President of the Global Peace Initiative, an organisation committed to promoting peace and justice worldwide. According to him, the plea aims to protect millions of Indians and uphold the democratic values of the nation by eliminating the menace of unregulated betting apps.

The petition cites a First Information Report (FIR) registered in Telangana in March against 25 Bollywood celebrities, cricketers, and influencers for allegedly misleading the public through their promotion of betting platforms. It also references a news report about 24 suicides in Telangana, reportedly linked to debts accrued from online betting.

The petitioner argues that the unregulated nature of online betting and gambling — often masked as fantasy sports or skill-based games — poses a serious threat to the country's youth and vulnerable citizens. He emphasizes that betting, whether online or offline, is fundamentally a game of chance rather than skill, and thus qualifies as gambling under many state laws, including the Public Gambling Act, 1867. The absence of a uniform central law further exacerbates the issue, he contends.

Describing the plea as a move in the "larger public interest", the petitioner stresses the urgent need to protect young Indians from what he calls an exploitative and dangerous industry.

He also claims international recognition for his peace efforts, stating that he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by multiple countries — including the US, Norway, Sudan, and India — and has been instrumental in preventing several major conflicts and rescuing over 300 orphans and street children globally.