Overview

• A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan allowed the Centre’s transfer plea, ordered digital transfer of all High Court records within a week, and said no other High Court will entertain challenges to the law.
• The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 imposes a nationwide ban on real‑money online games and related ads, with penalties of up to three years’ jail and ₹1 crore for service providers and up to two years and ₹50 lakh for advertisers.
• The law has not been notified; the government indicated no action within a week even as A23 sought an urgent stay on notification, and the matter will be listed early before the Supreme Court.
• Petitions by Head Digital Works (A23), Bagheera Carrom and Clubboom11 argue violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21, question Parliament’s competence, and say the Act ignores the legal distinction between games of skill and chance.
• Industry platforms suspended cash contests after the law’s passage, with reports saying Dream11’s revenue fell about 95% and the company signalled a pivot toward sports content, AI and overseas growth.