Background and Objective
The Government of Haryana has officially made the Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025, to replace the ancient colonial Public Gambling Act of 1867. This law reform is aimed at capturing the evolving nature of gambling, which presently mostly involves digital assets and internet-based platforms. The law was made to deal with issues like match-fixing, spot-fixing, and betting activities by syndicates. It took effect on 21st May 2025, as per notification in the Official Gazette. Haryana’s Chief Minister Nayab Singh said that the old gambling laws had not kept up with technology-based betting networks, which were critical financially for citizens. The new Act aims to impose tough penalties and empower authorities with wider powers of enforcement in both physical and online spaces.
Key Definitions Under the Act
The Act lays down clear definitions to avoid legal ambiguity. Betting” comprises any wager, particularly over electronic media such as websites or phone apps. “Gambling” comprises betting and gaming activity, and a “game of chance” is one where fortune will prevail over expertise, and a “game of skill” is based on the knowledge, training, or experience of a participant. Significantly, the government still has the authority to notify certain games as “games of skill.The term “common gambling house” is redefined to include both physical and virtual spaces where gambling activities take place for rewards. It also defines “match fixing” and “spot fixing” as forms of sporting dishonesty committed for personal gain. A major innovation is the classification of “organised gambling syndicates” as groups running regular gambling operations, demanding heightened legal scrutiny.
Offences and Penalties
The Act imposes stern penalties for a variety of gambling-related acts. Those found gambling public places or such common gambling houses are punishable with one year’s imprisonment or a fine of ₹10,000, or both. For a second offense, the penalty is increased to at least one year, which can be extended up to three years, along with a mandatory fine. Individuals who own, operate, or finance a gambling house are liable to undergo imprisonment ranging from three to five years and a maximum fine of ₹1 lakh. An offender found guilty for the second time can be sentenced to five to seven years of imprisonment with a fine of ₹2 to ₹5 lakh. For spot-fixing or match-fixing in sports, three to five years of imprisonment and at least ₹5 lakh as fine is recommended by the law. For repeat offenders, the punishment is five to seven years of imprisonment along with a minimum fine of ₹7 lakh. Even those abetting such crimes will be punishable with the same penalties as the main perpetrators.
Search, Seizure, and Police Powers
The Act grants sweeping powers to executive magistrates and gazetted police officers. Such authorities can permit warrantless search, seizure, and arrest if they have credible information or conduct an investigation indicating gambling activities. Police sub-inspectors and above can enter any premises suspected to be used for gambling, seize relevant items such as money, gambling accessories, or electronic devices, and arrest individuals present. In the case of found gambling equipment or gambling records at a premises, the law presumes it to be a gambling house and it is up to the accused to prove otherwise. All such procedures are to be conducted in accordance with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Safeguards, Exemptions, and Whistleblower Protection
The Act provides the State Government with the power to exempt certain geographical areas or markets from its application, if necessary. It also protects public servants acting in good faith under the provisions of the Act from legal proceedings. A significant inclusion is the whistleblower protection clause—if an individual involved in gambling activities assists the prosecution by providing truthful testimony, the court can issue a certificate granting them immunity from punishment. This aims to encourage insider disclosures and dismantle larger gambling networks. The government is also empowered to issue special orders within two years of the Act’s implementation to resolve any practical difficulties encountered.
Repeal of Old Law
The new law legally abrogates the Public Gambling Act of 1867 insofar as it relates to Haryana. The old law’s actions, however, continue to hold force provided they are not incompatible with the new Act’s provisions. Such an approach maintains continuity of enforcement while crossing the bridge to an updated legal system. The repeal reflects Haryana’s determination to bring its gambling legislation up to date based on today’s realities in terms of online betting and electronic financial transactions.
Broader Regulatory Landscape: Other States and Industry Response
Haryana’s action closely tracks recent events in Tamil Nadu, where the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) launched strict guidelines early this year. The rules bar access to online real-money games by minors (under 18), require Aadhaar-based KYC verification, limit access between midnight and 5 AM, and insist on features such as spending limits, warning pop-ups, and addiction notifications. These top RMG platforms such as A23 (Head Digital Works), Games24x7, and Junglee Games submitted writ petitions to the Madras High Court against these regulations under the TNOGA (Real Money Games) Regulations, 2025.
Advertising, Social Media, and Tech Platform Oversight
Increased regulatory attention is being directed at social media influencers and platforms that promote gambling apps. Regulatory bodies are cracking down on misleading or aggressive betting endorsements. Tech giants like YouTube have also responded by implementing stricter ad policies and limiting the visibility of gambling content. However, enforcing these standards remains difficult due to widespread use of VPNs and false age verification techniques. This digital loophole poses a challenge to effective regulation despite the law’s broad scope.
Industry’s Code of Ethics and Self-Regulation
Under the growing regulatory heat, the leading players in the real-money gaming segment have adopted a Code of Ethics. This self-regulating system focuses on protecting players by undertaking steps such as age-gating, Aadhaar-based Know Your Customer, and transparent advertising disclaimers. The code also ensures safe handling of user data and minimizes the chance of gambling addiction by imposing daily or monthly deposit limits. Still, the effectiveness of these steps will be highly dependent on firm implementation and coordination with state-level legal frameworks such as the Haryana Act.
Conclusion
The Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025 is a holistic and visionary piece of legislation to govern betting, gambling, and fantasy trading in the age of the internet. Through precise definition of offences, enhancement of enforcement powers, incorporation of new legal instruments, and consumer protection, the Act aims to reconcile state interests with the popularity of online gaming. While similar legislation is being put in place in other Indian states, the Act can also act as a model for national reform of gaming and gambling law.
BareAct – https://www.homeharyana.gov.in/pdfs/Acts/Gambling Act.pdf