In the face of growing concerns about addiction, online gaming, and crimes linked to gambling, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on Friday that the Centre is thinking about regulating or even banning online gaming platforms. Following multiple MLAs’ concerns about the rising social and financial impact of online gaming, particularly real-money games, Fadnavis stated in his address to the state Legislative Assembly that the government is taking the issue seriously.
He also confirmed that he had written to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and was actively following up on the matter. “The Centre has jurisdiction over online gaming regulation because the majority of these platforms are hosted outside of India. We are committed to working closely with the Union government to combat this growing threat,” he was quoted as saying in reports.
During the Assembly, Shiv Sena MLA Kailash Patil shed light on a shocking incident in his constituency in which a man, driven by addiction, sold his land and home to fund his gaming habit. He even killed his pregnant wife and two-year-old child before committing suicide because he couldn’t deal with the debt. “Just like Maharashtra once took a tough stand on dance bars, the time has come to act against online gaming to protect our youth,” Patil said.
The debate also shifted toward celebrities endorsing gaming apps, with some leaders pointing out that such promotions can mislead citizens, particularly young audiences, into using gambling platforms. Fadnavis urged celebrities to stop endorsing such apps.“We’ll also explore legal options to restrict such advertisements at the state level,” he added.
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Earlier this year, Maharashtra considered introducing its regulatory framework for skill-based gaming, which would include licensing requirements and stricter compliance. Yogesh Kadam, the MoS for Home Affairs, had previously disclosed that new legislation was being drafted to combat financial fraud and cybercrime involving gaming platforms.
The matter has now reached the Centre’s table due to the growing attention being paid to real-money gaming, which may pave the way for national regulatory action. Stay tuned with Digit to know about the latest updates.