India’s Supreme Court has upheld state-level restrictions on online real-money gaming, ruling that governments have the constitutional authority to regulate and prohibit wagering activities conducted through digital platforms.
The decision, delivered on 27 May in *State of Tamil Nadu & Ors. v. Junglee Games India Pvt. Ltd. & Ors.* (2026 INSC 594), marks a significant development for the country’s online gaming sector and reinforces the ability of states to impose restrictions on betting-related activities.
The judgment was issued by a bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan and resolved a long-running legal dispute surrounding legislative amendments introduced by the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The amendments criminalised participation in online games involving money or stakes, including rummy, poker and fantasy sports.
At the heart of the case was the question of whether state governments could rely on their constitutional powers over betting and gambling under Entry 34 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to regulate or prohibit wagering on games that involve elements of skill.
The decision is likely to strengthen the position of state governments seeking tighter oversight of the online gaming sector and could have significant implications for operators offering real-money gaming products throughout the country.
