In the current digital age, online gaming has become a major component. It acts as a platform for interacting with others over the internet. The fascination with online gaming has grown so much among youth and children that it seems to take over their lives. There is a clear difference between traditional games and online gaming. Traditional games promote physical activity, while online games only provide mental engagement. The habit of online gaming is adversely impacting the development of values and skills, and it is also causing mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Each year, about 450 million people lose nearly 200 billion rupees in financial online gaming. Reports of people experiencing financial ruin and committing suicide due to online gaming are surfacing nationwide.
Approximately two-thirds of India's population consists of young people who are so adept with digital technology that they often unknowingly fall into the trap of online gaming while playing for entertainment. Even children aged 10-15 have become hooked on these games. They find themselves ensnared in the pursuit of quick wealth, a cycle that is difficult to escape. In 2016, there were 2 million people engaged in fantasy sports, and by 2027, this figure is expected to rise to 500 million. Numerous betting apps are causing individuals to spend vast sums of money. To profit from advertising these betting and gaming apps, film stars and cricket icons are leading the youth into the gambling trap. This trend of money gaming poses a significant threat to society. Consequently, prioritizing public interest over revenue loss, the government has introduced the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill. Once enacted, this law will prohibit all money-related online gaming. People will be unable to download online gaming apps from the Google Play Store. The bill aims to penalize those who facilitate gaming rather than the players themselves.
Those who play online games related to money will not be punished. A provision of fine up to one crore and three years imprisonment has been made for those who operate such gaming apps. The star advertising this type of gaming app will be sentenced to two years and fined Rs 50 lakh. A rule has been made to ban advertisements of money gaming and to prevent banks and financial institutions from transferring money. A provision of three years imprisonment with a fine of one crore has been made for those who facilitate financial transactions in money-related games. There is a provision of three to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to two crore rupees for repeated offenses. Offenses have been made cognizable and non-bailable under major sections. The Central Government had imposed 28 percent GST on online games related to money in the year 2023. Now due to the ban on online games, the government will lose crores of revenue, but the government has taken a commendable initiative to save people from waste without worrying about revenue. The online gaming business in the country is currently worth $3.8 billion. Now this business will suffer and jobs will also be lost. Because in a way sports is gambling and betting, it was also necessary to stop it. The government has already clarified that real money online gaming promotes activities like money laundering, fraudulent financial transactions and cyber crime. This is the reason why the need for strict monitoring and regulation on such platforms was being felt for a long time. In the year 2021, some other states including Karnataka had banned online gaming.
A state like Karnataka, which has an IT hub like Bengaluru, showed courage to save the future of the youth of the state. Before Karnataka, a ban had been imposed in Telangana and Andhra as well. Such bans have also been imposed in China, South Korea and other countries. With the ban on online gaming at the national level, companies investing in online gaming apps can now come out with changed names. In the coming days, people can see the banned sites with changed names. It is important to show our children and the young generation the right direction so that they do not get confused. The government says that it will encourage e-sports and social gaming that can be played without money. Parents will also have to show their children the right direction. Unless we morally resolve to stay away from online gaming, the bans will not have any effect. The interest of the new generation has to be generated towards sports. They can save their precious time and money. For this, sports played in open fields will have to be promoted from villages to metros. The countrymen will have to come forward and shape the future of the children.