Pune: Maharashtra Govt Urges Centre to Regulate Online Gaming
Pimpri, 10th July 2025: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Maharashtra Legislative Council that the state has formally requested the central government to bring a law to regulate online gaming and lottery platforms, citing growing addiction among youth and related criminal incidents.
Responding to a question raised by BJP legislators Chitra Wagh, Prasad Lad, Pravin Darekar, and Niranjan Davkhare, CM Fadnavis stated, “Advertisements of gambling apps are fuelling addiction among the youth. Lured by promises of quick money, many are falling into the trap of online gaming.”
He highlighted alarming data:
– Four suicides and two murders across Maharashtra have been directly linked to online gaming.
– In Pimpri-Chinchwad’s Kivale, a 16-year-old boy addicted to gaming jumped off the 14th floor of his building.
– Additional cases include one suicide in Nashik Rural (2021), one in Gondia (2023), one in Pimpri-Chinchwad (2024), and two murders and one suicide in Dharashiv (2025).
Further, online gaming has led to financial fraud, with:
– One case in Navi Mumbai (2025)
– Eleven cases in Nashik Rural between 2022 and 2025
Fadnavis admitted that no specific laws currently exist to ban online gaming, but the Information Technology (IT) Rules under the Ministry of Electronics and IT have been notified in the official Gazette to exercise some control. The state has urged the Centre to enact a dedicated legislation for regulating online lotteries and games.
To combat the menace, Maharashtra Cyber Cell is conducting awareness drives through social media and direct public outreach. The government is also emphasizing the need to educate young people and parents about the potential harms of excessive online gaming.
