Apple(US:AAPL) MINT·2025-10-16 08:27Core Viewpoint - The Supreme Court of India will hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on October 17, 2023, regarding the prohibition of online gambling and betting platforms that operate under the guise of social and e-sports games [1]. Group 1: Legal and Regulatory Context - The PIL requests directions to various Union Ministries to interpret the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, in a way that prohibits online gambling and betting games disguised as social and e-sports games [2]. - The petition names six respondents, including four Union ministries and major app store operators, Apple Inc. and Google India Pvt. Ltd. [2]. Group 2: Social and Economic Impact - The CASC claims that the proliferation of betting and gambling applications is causing significant social and economic harm across India [3]. - It is reported that over 650 million individuals are engaged in online gaming, generating an annual business of more than ₹1.8 trillion for these platforms [4]. - The unchecked expansion of online gaming is described as a "national crisis," affecting half of India's population and leading to financial ruin, mental health issues, and suicides [5]. Group 3: Government and Financial Oversight - The PIL seeks to block monetary transactions involving unregistered gaming applications through directives to the RBI, NPCI, and UPI platforms [6]. - It also calls for tax recovery and investigations into offshore gaming companies estimated to owe over ₹200 billion in unpaid taxes [6]. Group 4: Protection of Minors and Data Security - The PIL requests measures for the protection of data collected from minors by online gaming companies [7]. - Concerns are raised about endorsements of unlawful games by top cricketers and film stars, leading to issues such as cyber fraud, addiction, and mental health disorders [7].