Apple(US:AAPL) BusinessLine·2025-10-22 10:52Core Viewpoint - The Supreme Court of India is addressing a plea to prohibit online gambling and betting platforms that are allegedly disguised as social and e-sports games, highlighting concerns over their social and economic impact [1][5][7]. Group 1: Legal and Regulatory Actions - The Supreme Court has requested the Central government to assist in the case and has scheduled the next hearing in two weeks [2]. - The plea seeks directions to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platforms to prevent monetary transactions involving unregistered gaming applications [3]. - The petition calls for a coordinated interpretation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, and state laws to effectively prohibit online gambling and betting [4]. Group 2: Economic Impact - The online gaming sector reportedly engages over 650 million individuals in India, generating an annual revenue exceeding ₹1.8 trillion for these platforms [6]. - The unchecked growth of online gaming is described as a national crisis, affecting half of India's population and leading to financial ruin and mental health issues [8]. Group 3: Social Concerns - The proliferation of online gambling is linked to severe social issues, including addiction, mental health disorders, and even suicides, as highlighted by the petition [10]. - The involvement of prominent figures, such as top cricketers and film stars, in endorsing these unlawful games is raising concerns about cyber fraud and the potential for money laundering [10]. Group 4: Data Protection - The plea also emphasizes the need for protecting the data of minors that has already been collected by online gaming companies [9].