Karnataka High Court Issues Notice To Centre On Second Petition Challenging Newly Enacted 'Online Gaming' Act

The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued notice to the Union of India on a second petition challenging the newly enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 which seeks to prohibit 'online money games' and offering of bank services, advertisements related thereto.

Justice B M Shyam Prasad issued notice to the Union on the petition filed by K Anand and another.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Union of India informed about the petition filed before the Supreme court seeking transfer of all the petitions filed in different high courts challenging the law to be transferred to the Apex Court.

Following which, the high court adjourned the hearing to Thursday.

This plea seeks a declaration that Sections 2(1) (g) and 5 of the Act in so far as they apply to online skill games (with our without monetary stakes), as being unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1) (g) and 21 of the Constitution of India, and or beyond the legislative competence of the parliament.

By way of interim relief the plea seeks to stay the operation of sections 2(1) (g) and 5 of the impugned act, insofar as they apply to online skill games (with or without monetary stakes).

On August 30, the high court had sought Centre's response on the plea filed by Head Digital Works–which operates 'A23 Rummy', which also challenges the Act.