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?