New Delhi, Aug 20 (NationPress) Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has presented the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, in Lok Sabha this Wednesday. This legislation is designed to promote and regulate esports, educational, and social games, while outright banning the offering, operation, facilitation, advertisement, promotion, and participation in online money games.

The Bill defines “e-sport” as an online game played as part of multi-sport events, featuring organized competitive contests between individuals or teams. These competitions are held in multiplayer formats under pre-established rules and are recognized under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The outcomes of esports are determined exclusively by player skills, which include physical dexterity, mental agility, and strategic thinking.

Furthermore, the Bill outlines that the Central Government will undertake initiatives to promote esports by establishing guidelines for events, creating training and research institutions, launching incentive and awareness programs, collaborating with State Governments and sports federations, and implementing other strategies to foster sector growth.

It also clarifies that an “online money game” refers to any online game, based on skill, chance, or a combination of both, where users pay fees, deposit money, or stake items with the expectation of receiving monetary or other rewards. Notably, this definition excludes esports.

By explicitly separating esports from online money games and gambling, it grants the legal recognition and legitimacy that athletes, creators, and gaming organizations have long sought.

With government backing, players and creators can now engage in esports professionally with assurance, while the ecosystem thrives thanks to structured support, training programs, and guidelines that encourage sustainable growth and innovation.

In response to this development, Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, stated, "The government's intent to recognize and promote esports, as indicated in the recent bill, is a promising step towards establishing a structured and globally competitive ecosystem. However, for this vision to come to fruition, it is essential that the terminology used in the bill, especially the distinctions between esports, online gaming, online social gaming, and online money gaming, is clearly defined and universally understood.

"The lack of precise definitions has often led to confusion around the term ‘esports’. Such overlaps can lead to misunderstandings not only for regulators but also for players, teams, investors, and organizers who are diligently working to develop this industry.”

India has also been making notable advancements in international esports tournaments. S8UL, the sole Indian organization currently competing in 13 different esports titles, has become the nation's first and only team selected among 40 of the world’s best esports teams for the Club Partner Program of the USD 70 million prize pool Esports World Cup (EWC).

"This bill signifies a historic turning point for Indian esports. By clearly differentiating skill-based competitive gaming from betting, it protects the integrity of our ecosystem while paving the way for structured growth. Esports is a sport grounded in skill, discipline, and years of effort. With governmental recognition and the right infrastructure, India is now ready to emerge as a global leader in esports and gaming culture,” expressed Animesh Agarwal, known as 8Bit Thug, co-founder and CEO of S8UL Esports.

Esports is already gaining mainstream traction in India, illustrated by its inclusion in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 earlier this year. States such as Bihar, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland have also been actively promoting grassroots esports through championships and structured programs, underscoring the growing acknowledgment of competitive gaming as a legitimate sport.