The Supreme Court of India has launched new “high-level consultations” on applying under-age and youth safeguards to tech platforms to ensure compliance of real-money games, content and apps.
The Consolations will reach-out to tech giants Google and Apple on the scrutiny and sasfgaurding of under-18 audiences with games content. Feedback is needed to a review a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that raises urgent questions about youth exposure to gambling and the industry’s lack of oversight.
The PIL, filed by Christian evangelist and activist Dr K.A. Paul, accuses online gaming platforms of operating unchecked, disguising betting mechanics as fantasy sports or skill-based games, and fuelling a shadow economy that preys on vulnerable users — particularly minors and young adults.
Misleading Platforms and Youth Exposures
At the heart of the complaint is the allegation that India’s digital betting ecosystem is operating with virtual impunity by exploiting legal grey areas. Platforms offering real-money gaming — often dressed up as fantasy cricket leagues or rummy tournaments — are accused of misleading consumers by blurring the lines between entertainment and gambling.
The PIL references two high-profile cases: first, an ongoing investigation into 25 Indian celebrities allegedly promoting betting apps covertly on social media; and second, a tragic report from Telangana where 24 people are believed to have died by suicide due to debts linked to online betting.
Despite the rapid growth of India’s online gaming industry, no federal framework exists to regulate the space. Only three states — Goa, Daman, and Sikkim — have implemented regulatory mechanisms, while others like Karnataka have floated partial models limited to games of skill. The rest of the country remains unregulated, with no formal accountability for underage users, no consumer protection standards, and little legal clarity on what constitutes a “game of chance” versus a “game of skill.”
Tech Giants Drawn In
The Supreme Court’s bench, led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, has requested input from major institutions — including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) — along with key private players. These include Google, Apple, and leading game platforms such as Dream11, A23 Games, and Mobile Premier League.
Google’s role is particularly significant. The tech giant, which dominates Android-based app distribution in India, is simultaneously under scrutiny in a separate investigation involving alleged money laundering through betting apps on its Play Store. The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Google representatives for questioning.
Google had previously launched a pilot programme to allow fantasy sports and rummy apps on the Indian Play Store, but paused further expansion due to the country’s murky regulatory environment. A new proposal currently under review by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) seeks to open Play Store access to all “permissible” real-money games, provided they are certified as legal games of skill.
A Fight for Clarity
The PIL demands a nationwide legislative framework to govern online betting, calling for safeguards against underage gambling and better classification of digital games. Currently, there are no mandatory age-verification systems, no consumer education campaigns, and little transparency in app operations — a situation critics say has led to a surge in youth participation in high-risk gambling under the guise of harmless mobile gaming.
In a statement, Paul urged lawmakers to act “in the name of the larger public interest to safeguard the youth of India from the unregulated, exploitative, and dangerous online betting industry operating under the garb of fantasy sports and skill-based gaming.”
As India emerges as one of the world’s largest mobile-first gaming markets — home to over 600 million smartphone users — the outcome of these court proceedings could reshape the future of digital gaming, app store governance, and platform responsibility in the region.
