Supreme Court issues notice to states on plea seeking ban on betting apps

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to all state governments in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding strict regulation of online and offline betting applications.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also sought responses from Google India, TRAI, Apple India, Dream11 Fantasy, Mobile Premier League, A23 Games, and other stakeholders named in the petition.

The bench granted the Centre two additional weeks to file its reply and scheduled the next hearing for August 18.

The PIL, filed by evangelist K.A. Paul, urged the government to introduce a uniform central law to prohibit or regulate betting and gambling activities. Paul highlighted the growing issue of celebrity endorsements by top cricketers, actors, and influencers, claiming they entice children and youth into betting.

“I am here on behalf of millions of parents whose children have died in the past couple of years. More than 1,023 people committed suicide in Telangana alone. Aggressive advertising by celebrities misleads youth into gambling, pushing them toward addiction and financial ruin,” Paul stated.

The petitioner further alleged that unregulated betting platforms are being used as fronts for money laundering and black money transactions, violating provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.