India’s digital gaming landscape has witnessed a significant milestone with the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. This legislation bans all forms of real-money online gaming (RMG), including fantasy sports and skill-based contests, while fostering regulated, socially constructive gaming, such as e-sports and educational titles. The sweeping reforms have elicited strong reactions across the industry, legal, security, and societal domains, underscoring the importance of a discussion on their validity, economic impact, national risk, and the protection of citizens.
However, beyond these immediate concerns lies a broader set of national security challenges. Global experience shows that online gaming platforms, if unregulated, can serve as a route for terrorist radicalisation, recruitment, and covert communication.
Equally disconcerting are the financial risks, as gaming wallets and virtual assets have been linked to money laundering, fraud, and illicit cross-border transactions. Therefore, the convergence of financial crimes and terrorism through online gaming causes a serious concern for national security.
To explore these complex dimensions, we propose a panel discussion featuring experts on national security and financial crimes. The objective of this panel is to examine these intersecting risks with a sharp focus on the security, financial, and governance implications of the Act, while also recognising its broader impact on industry and society.
Key questions
- How potent are the risks of terrorist radicalisation, recruitment, and covert communication through online gaming platforms in India, and how should India prepare against such threats?
- In what ways can gaming wallets and virtual assets be exploited for money laundering, fraud, and cross-border illicit flows, and what safeguards are necessary to strengthen financial oversight?
- How can India balance the imperatives of national security and financial crime prevention with the legitimate interests of innovation, industry growth, and consumer choice in the digital economy?
- Does the Online Gaming Act 2025 enhance India’s security architecture, or does it risk driving users towards unregulated and offshore platforms beyond state control?