BREAKING: Maharashtra May Ban Online Gaming-Fadnavis Says Centre Taking Issue Seriously

📰 Maharashtra Considers Ban on Online Gaming Amid Rising Crimes, Addiction Among Youth: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai, August 25, 2025 — In response to rising public concern and cross-party pressure from lawmakers, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the state government is seriously considering a ban on online gaming due to its link to youth addiction, financial ruin, and rising gambling-related crimes.

Fadnavis made the statement while addressing the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, stating that he has written to Union Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and is closely coordinating with the Centre, which has exclusive powers to regulate online gaming.

“I have spoken to the IT Minister, and the Centre is seriously looking into the issue. Regulating online gaming requires intervention from the Union government, as only it has the authority to frame laws on this subject,” Fadnavis said.

🚨 A Growing Crisis: Crime, Suicides, and Financial Ruin

The Chief Minister’s remarks came after MLAs from across party lines raised alarm over the explosion of online gambling and real-money gaming apps, which have been linked to mental health issues, financial distress, and even suicides.

Shiv Sena MLA Kailash Patil shared a disturbing case from his constituency:

“A man sold his three-acre land and home to fund his online gaming habit. Drowning in debt, he killed his pregnant wife, his two-year-old son, and then took his own life.”

He urged the state to act decisively, much like it did when banning dance bars.

“If we could ban dance bars to protect youth, we must act against this digital menace now.”

🧠 Mental Health & Youth Vulnerability

Citing the adverse impact on mental health, Fadnavis acknowledged that the situation has worsened over the past four to five years, especially as online gambling platforms become more aggressive in their marketing.

“These websites are mostly hosted internationally. That’s why we need central intervention. But the state government is committed to working in tandem with the Centre to curb this growing threat,” he said.

🎥 Call to Celebrities: Stop Promoting Gambling Apps

NCP (SP) MLA Abhijeet Patil highlighted the role of celebrities in promoting gambling platforms through endorsements, calling it “socially irresponsible.”

“These endorsements glamorize gambling and worsen the addiction crisis among youth,” he said.

CM Fadnavis echoed the concern and made a public appeal to celebrities to stop endorsing such platforms, also stating that the state would explore legal avenues to ban such advertisements.

📉 Impact on Gaming Industry & Listed Companies

The move could have a significant impact on India’s booming online gaming industry. Companies such as:

Delta Corp (casino & online gaming),
Nazara Technologies (eSports, skill-based gaming),
OnMobile Global (mobile gaming platforms),

may face increased scrutiny, investor concerns, and potential regulatory disruptions in the wake of this announcement.

A previous attempt by the Maharashtra government in April 2025 aimed at regulating online skill-based gaming had also proposed licensing fees and compliance mandates for real-money gaming (RMG) operators.

🛡️ Draft Law in Progress

Earlier this year, Minister of State for Home Affairs Yogesh Kadam informed the Legislative Council that the state was drafting robust legal provisions aimed at tackling cybercrime, financial fraud, and addiction linked to online gaming.

“We are building a framework that combines preventive oversight and legal enforcement,” he had said.

📊 Industry Boom Vs Public Backlash

India’s online gaming industry is projected to hit $9.1 billion by 2029, driven largely by real-money gaming platforms. However, with growing public backlash, legal challenges, and mental health crises, state governments like Maharashtra are being forced to walk the tightrope between innovation and regulation.