• Source:JND
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday defended the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, saying that the government brought in the new law to regulate online gaming without heeding to any pressure.

The new bill has been brought to ensure that the future of the country's youth is safeguarded. During an interaction with national awardee teachers, PM Modi said that there are massive job opportunities in the online gaming market and therefore, teachers should sensitise students about these opportunities.

In a cautious tone, PM Modi said, "Gaming is not bad, but gambling is... the future of our youth must be safeguarded". "India can dominate the global online gaming market, if done in the right manner...there are huge job opportunities too," he added.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 was passed by the Parliament during the Monsoon Session and received the President's assent. The act bars all forms of online money games while promoting e-sports and other online games.

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The Act also seeks to ban advertisements related to online money games and prohibits banks and financial institutions from transferring funds for any of such games.

The PM said, "We introduced a new online gaming law...all teachers must now sensitise students that gaming and gambling are different. This is a big decision that we have taken and many forces did not want us to ban online gambling but our government has the political will and intent to protect future of youth."

"There are many games with which students were impressed and affected, money was being wasted, even housewives had begun to try them. The losses were driving people to suicide, it became like an addiction which was destroying families as people were being trapped," he said.

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The prime minister emphasised the role that teachers can play in sensitising students about the harmful effects of online money games.

"We have decided that such harmful content will not be placed before students. I urge teachers to sensitise students about this...now even Olympics has included online gaming, having that talent is different but making it reach addiction stage is something which needs to be avoided at any cost," he said.

(With PTI Inputs)