Faced with a surge in digital gaming addiction and its devastating impact on youth, Maharashtra is taking a decisive stand. In July 2025, state legislators and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis raised the prospect of a broad ban on online games, arguing that unchecked digital gaming is fueling addiction, mental distress, crime, and in several tragic instances, suicides among young people.
Between 2023 and 2025, the state officially recorded 97 cases of illegal online betting, with Mumbai City topping the list. Suicides, violent incidents, and financial fraud tied to compulsive digital gaming have emerged as a new-age social crisis.
Many lawmakers and experts highlight the blurred lines between skill-based and pure gambling games; urging clear definitions in any future legislation.
Chief Minister Fadnavis admitted that Maharashtra’s current legal framework is ill-equipped for the digital age. With most online gaming platforms based outside India, the state can act only in partnership with the central government.
Affordable smartphones, widespread internet, and aggressive marketing have put online gaming just a tap away for over 500 million Indian users in 2025. The lack of robust legal guardrails has left children and teens at risk of exploitation through predatory in-app purchases, gambling mechanics, and reward-based game loops.
Maharashtra’s Cyber Department now runs state-wide campaigns in schools and on social media to educate youth and parents about safe gaming practices. Since 2017, more than 3,200 police have been trained in digital crime investigation.
Major companies such as Nazara Technologies and Delta Corp face an uncertain future, with investors monitoring regulatory moves closely. As the legal debate continues, many warn that unqualified bans risk penalizing casual gamers and domestic game developers. Thoughtful policy—targeting real-money gambling exploitation while supporting India’s gaming ecosystem; is seen as essential.
