Italian PM Giorgia Meloni slams viral fake photo, jokes ‘improved me quite a bit’Italian PM Giorgia Meloni denounced the deepfake photo as a political attack. Updated on: May 06, 2026 9:06 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed the
A stage performance at Galgotias University has sparked jokes online after a clip from the college festival started circulating on social media. The video appeared to show a magic trick from an angle that revealed how the illusion worked. The performance took place during UNIFEST
Samsung Electronics has crossed $1 trillion in market valuation for the first time, a significant milestone driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips and a broader rally in . Samsung is the world’s largest memory chipmaker.According to Bloomberg
Officials have confirmed the return of the rare caracal in the Thar Desert near the India-Pakistan border, raising fresh hopes for conservation of the highly elusive, and critically endangered species. The officials spotted two wildcats, a male and female
Players would boycott French Open over prize money dispute, says Aryna SabalenkaThreat deepens a dispute between players and Roland Garros organisers over prize money distribution, even though this year's tournament offers a 9.5% increase Published on: May 06
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (August 20, 2025), marks a major and sudden departure for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology from its earlier approach of nudging the real money gaming (RMG) industry to self-regulate. The industry, which counts large firms like Dream11, MPL and PokerBaazi, has largely maintained public silence, but has voiced concern in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah.
With real money gaming ban, govt. breaks off from self-regulation attempts
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (August 20, 2025), marks a major and sudden departure for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology from its earlier approach of nudging the real money gaming (RMG) industry to self-regulate. The industry, which counts large firms like Dream11, MPL and PokerBaazi, has largely maintained public silence, but has voiced concern in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah.
In 2023, the IT Ministry announced an amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to regulate RMG firms, by getting them to set up a government-registered self-regulatory body. However, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters on Wednesday the proposals were rife with conflicts of interest.
In the meantime, complaints mounted from MPs and social organisations, Mr. Vaishnaw said, about the toll that RMG platforms were exerting on their constituents and families around the country. “This was across party lines,” Mr. Vaishnaw said. “In every State we were hearing these complaints.” Similar pan-partisan tensions preceded the decision by the GST Council in 2023, when a 28% tax was slapped on all deposits in RMG platforms at face value, as opposed to on the commission, as was the case earlier.
The RMG industry has successfully stalled or fought off State-level bans, thanks to the courts' settled view that games of “skill,” where a player's experience and smarts can influence the outcome far more than luck, do not constitute gambling. Since States are restricted by the Constitution on regulating games that are not legally recognised as gambling, the Union government holds the cards. And until Wednesday, it appeared that a light-touch regime would prevail.
With this Bill, the government seeks to render the skill-chance binary moot, presenting the RMG industry with perhaps its final shot at legitimacy at the courts. If the courts do not side in the government's favour, the state would continue to have yet another policy tool at its disposal: the rumoured so-called sin tax GST rate of 40%, which would further strain the industry's ability to remain an enticing option for people who want to play to win money.
“Litigation is inevitable,” Meghna Bal, founder of the tech policy think tank Esya Centre said, “as this law fails the test of proportionality under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.” Ms. Bal argued that the 2023 IT Rules amendment was a feasible way to regulate the sector. “There is no rational connection between the law and the purpose it seeks to serve, as it only opens up the market further for illegal offshore platforms that are driving financial losses.”
The Bill also provides explicit clarity to esports firms, which offer competition-based video games, with real life tournaments gaining increasing interest and viewership in India. An “authority” would be established by the IT Ministry that would register esports firms as well as determine whether a given platform is an “online money game” or not.
Published - August 21, 2025 01:39 am IST
gaming and lottery / economy, business and finance
Source: The Hindu
Related Posts: Gaming regulation roulette may sink billions in VC money Self-regulation for online media ineffective Delhi Private School Fee Regulation Bill 2025 Ahmedabad civic body launches app for online purchase of bus pass Cambodian lawmakers pass bill to revoke citizenship that critics call repressive Why Delimitation Bill Could Not Pass Kamal Haasan urges Centre to pass women's reservation bill without delimitation Vaibhav Suryavanshi gets promotion in Bihar cricket at 14 Nidhhi Agerwal Appears Before CID In Illegal Betting Promotion Case Tejasswi–Surbhi promotion drama
Courtroom exchange row: CJI seeks report on viral Andhra Pradesh HC videoThe episode, which unfolded before Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao on Monday, triggered a wave of reactions on social media after a video of the proceedings surfaced Published on: May 06
2 hours ago
Ranveer Singh has kept a low profile despite the smashing success of Aditya Dhar-directed Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2. He has made fewer public appearances and has barely made any statements. All eyes are also on the actor as fans anticipate the announcement of his next film, Pralay
2 hours ago
With temperatures continuing to soar across several parts of the country, health experts are warning people to take heat-related symptoms seriously. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can put immense stress on the body, often leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion and, in severe cases, heatstroke
2 hours ago
The DMK has strongly criticized the Congress party's decision to support actor Vijay's TVK in forming the government in Tamil Nadu. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai called the move a 'backstab' against the people and the mandate. He questioned the alliance's numbers and suggested the Congress
2 hours ago
Samsung Electronics has crossed the $1 trillion market valuation mark, becoming only the second Asian company after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to achieve the milestone, according to a report by Bloomberg. The surge came after Samsung shares jumped as much as 11% on Wednesday
2 hours ago
Following alarming post-election violence in West Bengal, which has tragically resulted in two fatalities and multiple instances of vandalism, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has directed the swift arrest of individuals linked to these crimes. In response
2 hours ago
Indian model Bhavitha Mandava gets honest about her casual blue jeans look at Met Gala 2026Bhavitha Mandava made her Met Gala debut wearing jeans. Internet noted the contrast between her casual look and the elaborate ensembles worn by other attendees. Published on: May 06
2 hours ago
May 6, Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on May 6, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: May 06, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 6
2 hours ago
-Stack Infrastructure, a data centre firm owned by , is considering its options, including a sale of its Asia operations in a deal valued at more than $30 billion, News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.Reuters could not immediately verify the report
2 hours ago
Medicine treats the evaluation of emerging technologies as a technical problem, but it is not. It is fundamentally an economic problem. When does a ₹30,000 genetic test represent excellent value and when does it represent wasted money? The answer depends on a question members of the medical
2 hours ago
Klay Thompson–Lexie Brown photo resurfaces amid rumors he cheated on Megan Thee StallionA resurfaced photo of Klay Thompson and Lexie Brown fuels speculation after Megan Thee Stallion stated “fidelity and respect” were the reasons behind the split. Published on: May 06
2 hours ago
Most of the science students dream of studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the world’s most prestigious and top-ranked engineering institutions. Located in Cambridge, USA, MIT has consistently remained at the top of global rankings for many years
2 hours ago
The ceasefire in the Gulf is four weeks old and showing its age. The US and Iran's determination to keep the pressure on each other has put it in serious jeopardy. This is a dangerous moment. The ceasefire opened up a chance for diplomacy that looked for a short time as if it might make progress
2 hours ago
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to increase the number of the judges in the Supreme Court to 38 from 34, including the chief justice. In a statement, the government said that the increase would allow the Supreme Court “to function more efficiently and effectively
2 hours ago
China, Iran hold talks to discuss opening of Strait of HormuzChina, Iran hold talks to discuss opening of Strait of Hormuz Published on: May 06, 2026 11:09 AM IST PTI Share via Copy link Beijing, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi
2 hours ago
On May 4, 2026, Thalapathy Vijay, chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, took social media by storm after securing a major victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election, sparking widespread celebrations among his supporters and fans across the state. Several celebrities, including Pooja Hegde
2 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Smart ACs with dehumidifier: 10 choices for cool, comfortable and moisture-free living in hot and humid weatherFind energy-efficient smart ACs with built-in dehumidifiers that reduce
2 hours ago
Over 500 flights were delayed and several diverted or cancelled at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after a sudden rain and hailstorm disrupted operations. A sudden spell of heavy rain and hailstorm disrupted normal life in Delhi on Tuesday
2 hours ago
(Bloomberg) -- Some European natural gas traders are already hedging against a spike in prices next winter as the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt supplies. Options contracts traded over the past week suggest that European benchmark gas prices could reach as high as €100 a
2 hours ago
From chaos to clarity, Arsenal have lived every emotion this past week. Now, they’re just one game away from the promised land: the UEFA Champions League final. And the best part? They’ve etched a bit of unprecedented history along the way. Arsenal’s Journey To The Precipice Of GreatnessFrom
2 hours ago
‘Sleep is king’: Heart surgeon ranks the best daily habits for long-term heart health and wellbeingA heart surgeon ranked popular wellness habits from CoQ10 and rucking to fiber and sleep, revealing why he believes “sleep is king” for heart health. Published on: May 06
2 hours ago
Bengaluru CEO hails school for teaching financial literacy to his 6-year-old son: ‘UPI, BHIM, savings’The Bengaluru CEO said that the book contains chapters on UPI, BHIM, and savings. Published on: May 06, 2026 11:16 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A LinkedIn post about a
2 hours ago
Rising hopes of a potential de-escalation between the United States and Iran are emerging as a key near-term trigger for global markets, including India. Reports of backchannel talks and diplomatic efforts to stabilise tensions around the Strait of Hormuz
2 hours ago
America and its Gulf allies have put forward a United Nations resolution. It warns Iran of sanctions if it does not stop attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran must also stop illegal tolls and reveal mine locations. The resolution seeks to ensure freedom of navigation
2 hours ago
World number one Aryna Sabalenka believes players will boycott a Grand Slam "at some point" because of the ongoing dispute over prize money. The men's and women's top-10 players are demanding a higher percentage of the revenue generated by the four majors
2 hours ago
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that his country will pause its military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz “for a short period of time”, citing progress towards a peace deal with Iran. The decision followed a request from Pakistan and other countries
2 hours ago
Maharashtra SSC Result 2026: When will MSBSHSE 10th results release? check past trendsMaharashtra SSC Result 2026 has not been announced. The MSBSHSE 10th results past trends can be checked here. Published on: May 06, 2026 9:58 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy
2 hours ago
