India's Supreme Court agrees to a final hearing on the online gaming Act

On 5 August 2026 the Supreme Court of India, with Chief Justice Surya Kant, agreed to give a final hearing to petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) and asked the parties to complete their pleadings. The reports are dated 5 and 6 August.

The lead case is Head Digital Works v Union of India, T.C.(C) No. 133/2025. All High Court challenges to the Act were transferred to the Supreme Court in September 2025.

Petitioners argue that the blanket ban on real-money games, including skill games such as rummy and poker, breaches the right to carry on a lawful trade under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. They also argue that it is arbitrary under Article 14 and that it encroaches on state powers over betting and gambling.

A separate public interest petition by the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) alleges that around 2,000 gaming apps still offer betting and gambling.

The 5 August hearing set procedure only. No ruling on the merits has been issued, and no final hearing date was confirmed in the sources found. The details come from the Supreme Court Observer case page and FOCUS Gaming News.

The Act itself, together with the Rules made under it, came into effect on 1 May 2026.

The Act, passed by Parliament on 20 and 21 August 2025 and given presidential assent on 22 August 2025, prohibits online money games, including real-money skill games. The petitions concern whether that prohibition is consistent with the Constitution.

In context: an order to complete pleadings is a step in the process rather than a decision, so the Act and its Rules remain the subject of the pending case.

18+ only. This article is for information, not advice to gamble. Responsible gambling.