Karnataka’s IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge fiercely criticized the Central government’s blanket ban on online real money gaming (RMG), labeling it a “masterstroke in bad policy making” that threatens jobs, revenue, and innovation. In a scathing post on X, Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, warned that the ban would devastate India’s burgeoning gaming industry and push users to unregulated offshore platforms.
The Union Cabinet’s proposed bill, cleared on Tuesday, bans online money gaming and its advertisements, imposing penalties of up to three years imprisonment, a fine of Rs 1 crore, or both for violations, while promoting eSports and online social games.
Kharge argued that this move jeopardizes Rs 20,000 crore in annual GST and income tax revenue, endangers over 2,000 gaming startups, and risks more than two lakh jobs in IT, AI, and design. He highlighted that Rs 23,000 crore in foreign direct investment over the past five years and Rs 7,000 crore in annual spending on ads, data centers, sponsorships, and cybersecurity could vanish.
Kharge cautioned that the ban would drive users to unregulated offshore platforms worth Rs 8.2 lakh crore annually, increasing risks of money laundering, terror financing, and data theft, as warned by the Financial Action Task Force and Rashtriya Raksha University. “Bans don’t stop addiction or suicides; they push users to platforms beyond government control,” he said, questioning the Centre’s rush to impose the ban while the Supreme Court deliberates on whether states or the Centre hold regulatory authority.
Also Read: 2,200 Menstrual Cups Transform Women’s Lives in Mandya
Advocating for regulation over prohibition, Kharge called for enforcing IT Rules, 2021, and whitelisting legitimate skill-based platforms to protect jobs, ensure safer user experiences, and bolster national security. “A well-balanced regulation will drive innovation and make India a global gaming hub,” he asserted, warning that the ban could fuel illegal markets and stifle the country’s tech ecosystem.
The bill’s recognition of eSports as a growth area was noted, but Kharge emphasized that a blanket ban on RMG would undermine these gains, urging a rethink to safeguard India’s economic and innovative potential.
Also Read: DTC’s E-Buses to Sport Vibrant Ads, Boosting Revenue for Delhi!