India’s Supreme Court Reviews CASC Petition on Gambling Apps Ban

The Supreme Court of India agreed to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding a prohibition on online gambling apps operating as social gaming or esports platforms. Filed by the Center for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) and activist Shourya Tiwari, the petition labels the issue a “national crisis”, arguing it endangers 50% of the country’s population.

Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran headed the bench that heard the arguments from CASC’s counsel Virag Gupta. The plea urges key ministries to implement the 2025 Online Gaming Act with state laws banning gambling for regulatory harmony.

PIL Targets Tech Giants

The petition was filed on October 13 by advocates Virag Gupta and Rupali Panwar, listing six respondents, including four Union ministries, Google India Pvt. Ltd., and Apple Inc. It targets the primary app store operators hosting such platforms. It demands coordinated action to curb online gambling and betting services masquerading as legal gaming.

The plea highlights participation by over 65 crore (650 million) users and an annual turnover surpassing ₹1.8 lakh crore (US$20.5 billion). It links these platforms to financial ruin and societal harm. Represented by Ex-Uttar Pradesh DGP Vikram Singh, CASC warns of escalating addiction cases, mental health crises, and suicides, urging immediate regulatory action.

Multi-Agency Crackdown

The PIL urges the Supreme Court to mandate blocking illegal gambling platforms under IT Act Section 69A and halt financial transactions via NPCI, RBI, and UPI for unregistered gaming apps. It further suggests probes into offshore operators by the ED, CBI, and Interpol. These platforms allegedly evade over ₹2 lakh crore (US$22.7 billion) in taxes and safeguards for minors and vulnerable individuals.

Earlier, Justices Pardiwala and Viswanathan called the case “an important Issue”, directing petitioners to share plea copies with government counsel. Advocate Gupta stressed the need to protect children impacted by regulatory gaps. He noted that gambling’s inclusion on the State List and the blocking of 1,528 gaming apps.

Gambling Failures

The petition cited the 2025 Online Gaming Act exists to counter real-money gambling risks, but enforcement gaps let illegal platforms thrive. Quoting the IT Minister’s parliamentary statement that the law aims to “prevent the serious evil creeping into society,” petitioners criticize celebrity endorsements that worsen addiction cases.