THE SUPREME COURT TODAY ordered the transfer of all petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, to itself that were pending before the Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts.
A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan allowed the Union government’s plea seeking the consolidation of proceedings pending before the Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts. The judges clarified that any similar challenge pending before other High Courts would also stand transferred.
“This transfer petition is at the instance of the Union of India. The transfer as prayed for is allowed. The proceedings from the Karnataka High Court, Delhi High Court, and Madhya Pradesh High Court stand transferred to this Court. Respective High Courts are directed to transfer entire records with all interlocutory applications filed within one week. Let this transfer be done digitally to save time,” the Bench said in its order.
The Act, which received Presidential assent on August 22 after being passed by Parliament a day earlier, imposes a blanket ban on “online money games”. It criminalises both offering and participating in such games—whether categorised as involving skill or chance—with offences being made cognisable and non-bailable.
The law also bars banks and service providers from extending facilities and prohibits advertising of such games.
The judges clarified that any similar challenge pending before other High Courts would also stand transferred.
Several online skill-gaming firms had moved the High Courts, questioning the law, contending that games of skill fall within the right to trade and profession. The Centre argued that multiplicity of proceedings would cause confusion and pressed for their consolidation.