Nagpur: The Government of India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025—which bans online platforms offering money-based games—has sent ripples across the betting world. With the Asia Cup fast approaching, Nagpur’s local betting syndicates see the move as a golden opportunity to reclaim business, while police brace for a surge in illegal activities.
Law enforcement agencies have already stepped up surveillance, anticipating that punters may shift operations to the dark web or turn to unregulated platforms using fake IDs to bypass restrictions.
A local bookie, requesting anonymity, said online platforms had been promoting gambling under the pretext of skill-based games. “Celebrity endorsements made them look authentic, and they even boasted of paying GST on transactions. But with the new bill, that illusion has been shattered,” he remarked.
Another bookie pointed out that Nagpur’s betting ecosystem was relatively insulated from the online boom. “At the national level, business was hit, but here, bookies rely heavily on IDs to operate. This keeps the network intact while staying under the radar of enforcement,” he explained.
The bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament and signed by the President, has been published in the Gazette, though the official date of enforcement is still awaited.
Joint Commissioner of Police Naveenchandra Reddy assured that Nagpur Police are prepared for evolving challenges. “With the ban, operators may shift to the dark web or explore new strategies. Our teams are fully equipped to track and arrest offenders. Alongside gambling charges, culprits can also face prosecution under fraud and IT Act provisions,” he said.
With the Asia Cup on the horizon, the ban has set the stage for a high-stakes contest off the pitch—between bookies looking to cash in and police determined to bowl them out.
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