Karnataka high court to hear plea against new online gaming law | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: Karnataka high court will on Aug 30 hear a challenge to the constitutional validity of the new online gaming law.The Centre said the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 that received the President’s assent on Aug 22, aims to curb addiction, financial ruin, and social distress caused by predatory gaming platforms using misleading promises of quick wealth.Head Digital Works Private Limited, New Delhi, which operates the gaming app and website A23, filed a petition opposing various provisions of the legislation that was passed by Parliament during the monsoon session.A23 launched its online poker platform in Oct last year and has since increased user engagement through various tournaments, game formats, and desktop applications. It is one of India’s largest real-money gaming platforms, offering online rummy and poker to over 75 million users. Recently, Head Digital Works, acquired Deltatech Gaming—operator of Adda52, one of India’s oldest online poker platforms—for Rs 491 crore. Senior counsel Aryama Sundaram and Dhyan Chinnappa mentioned the filing of the petition Thursday with Justice BM Shyam Prasad, who indicated the court would address the issue Saturday.The petition said the new law attempts to blur the distinction between games of skill and chance in defining ‘online money game’. The firm claimed that this disregard for established jurisprudence exceeds Parliament’s legislative competence and constitutes arbitrary action. Additionally, the petition deemed the definition to be overbroad, encompassing all online games involving monetary stakes.While prohibiting offering of online money games and services, the Act also bans advertising related to online money games, infringing on the right to free speech and the right to promote legitimate business, the petition stated.It also contended that the Act represents a sudden policy reversal for the gaming sector, opposing the Union govt’s recent initiatives recognising online gaming as part of the ‘digital economy.’
