The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 30) announced that it will hear on November 4 a batch of transferred petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (“Online Gaming Act”). The Act seeks to ban “online money games” and restrict the provision of related banking services, advertisements, and financial facilitation.

Earlier, on September 8, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan had allowed the Union Government’s plea to transfer and consolidate multiple petitions pending before the Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts, all filed by online skill-gaming companies. The bench had also clarified that any similar petitions before other High Courts would automatically stand transferred to the Supreme Court.

During today’s mentioning, Senior Advocates C. Aryaman Sundaram and Arvind P. Datar, representing two of the petitioners, sought confirmation from the same bench regarding the hearing date. Sundaram remarked, “My Lords, perhaps it would be better if the same bench, which had directed us earlier, confirms that the matters will be taken up on November 4.”

To this, Justice Pardiwala responded, “Then we will hear it.”

The Online Gaming Act, 2025, currently under challenge before several High Courts, is alleged to impose a blanket ban that also covers skill-based games, including e-sports, which courts have previously recognized as legitimate business activities. Petitioners argue that the Act’s overbroad restrictions violate Article 19(1)(g) — the right to practice any profession or carry on any trade or business. The Act was passed by Parliament on August 21 and received Presidential Assent on August 22.

Separately, the same bench is hearing a writ petition filed by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC), which seeks a harmonious interpretation between the Online Gaming Act and State laws to curb online betting platforms masquerading as e-sports. The plea requests blocking of such platforms under Section 69A of the IT Act, and directions to the RBI, NPCI, and UPI platforms to prohibit financial transactions with unregistered gaming entities. Notice in this matter was issued on October 17.

Case Title: Union of India v. Head Digital Works Pvt. Ltd. & Anr.
Case Number: T.P.(C) Nos. 2484–2486/2025