President Abhay Raj Mishra cautions that prohibition could fuel black markets, harm Indian entrepreneurship, and favor foreign gaming giants
India | August 20, 2025: Mr. Abhay Raj Mishra, President & National Convenor of PRAHAR (Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Addressal), has urged the government to take a more calibrated stance on the proposed Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025.
He cautioned that blanket bans have historically failed, noting, “Prohibition has never worked. This bill will bring back the satta market with a vengeance.” Mishra emphasized that bans push players to unregulated and riskier platforms, citing PRAHAR’s July 2025 survey of 2,500 gamers in Telangana. The findings revealed that despite an eight-year ban, players continue accessing games through VPNs, side-loaded apps, Telegram groups, and payment workarounds, with 94% expressing preference for regulated legal options.
Mishra further warned that the bill is anti–Indian entrepreneurship, as it disproportionately favors international gaming corporations. “The e-sports and casual gaming sectors that the bill promotes are dominated by Chinese and US giants. This is a U-turn—India had once banned PUBG, yet now those same companies will gain parliamentary legitimacy to operate here,” he stated, adding that this could raise sovereignty and integrity concerns.
He urged lawmakers to adopt a balanced framework that safeguards users, curbs illicit markets, and creates space for Indian gaming firms to thrive—particularly in the skill-based money games sector, where domestic players have shown success.