India's Battle Against Online Money Gaming: A New Legal Era Begins

India has taken a definitive step against the burgeoning public health crisis posed by online money gaming. On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed a bill to ban such games, marking a significant legal shift aimed at addressing societal impacts, as highlighted by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, passed with substantial backing, prohibits the operation, facilitation, and advertisement of online money games. This move comes as part of the government's strategy to counter rising issues of addiction, financial fraud, and money laundering linked to these platforms.

Minister Vaishnaw underscored the government's goal to position India as a global hub for eSports and social gaming, with the bill creating an authority to promote these segments. The other side of the coin reveals the dark shadow cast by online money gaming, which the World Health Organization ties to gaming disorder, a condition yielding grave social consequences.

(With inputs from agencies.)