Social good gets priority: Govt

MEITY SECRETARY S KRISHNAN told a television news channel that the number of jobs created by the industry was in thousands, but over 450 million people play online money-based games, creating distress to a very large number of households.

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The government said the prohibition will cost it heavily in GST revenue. Collections from online gaming surged by over 400% after the GST Council imposed a 28% levy in 2023, jumping from ₹1,349 crore to ₹6,909 crore in just six months. But senior officials insist the trade-off is worth it. "We chose the safety of middle-class families over some industry. Limiting harm to society is more important than revenue," one said.

Framing the move as necessary to protect families, ensure transparency, and curb national security risks, officials said the Bill is not intended to crush gaming as a whole but to distinguish between what benefits society and what causes harm.