Bihar Assembly Unanimously Passes Modern Gambling Ban Covering Online and Digital Currency
2026-07-22
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Bihar's legislature has unanimously passed a new gambling prohibition bill that replaces the 1867 Public Gambling Act, explicitly covering online platforms, mobile apps, and digital currencies, with penalties ranging from fines to multi-year prison terms and corporate liability provisions.
The Bihar state legislature has given unanimous approval to a new piece of legislation that extends gambling prohibitions to websites, mobile applications, and transactions involving virtual or digital currency, replacing the colonial-era Public Gambling Act of 1867.
The Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Bill, 2026 was introduced after India's Union Home Ministry directed all states and Union Territories to repeal the outdated framework and adopt laws that address contemporary betting methods. Under the constitutional division of powers, betting and gambling fall within the State List, granting each state authority to craft its own regulations—resulting in a patchwork of policies across the country.
Broad Definitions and Prohibited Activities
The bill defines betting broadly as staking money, digital currency, virtual currency, or any other item of value on an uncertain event. It covers wagers placed through physical, online, electronic, or virtual channels, and includes cases where prizes are awarded in kind rather than cash. Specific games named as prohibited include baccarat, craps, keno, roulette, slots, and three-card games, with the state government empowered to add further games of chance via subsequent notifications.
Penalties and Enforcement Powers
Police officers of sub-inspector rank or higher may search premises or make arrests without a warrant if they detect gambling or assistance to gambling in a public place. Individual participants face up to six months in prison, a fine between ₹3,000 ($35) and ₹10,000, or both. For those who operate, manage, or finance a public casino, a first offence carries a prison term of six months to three years and a fine up to ₹50,000; repeat offenders can receive two to five years in prison and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
The legislation also introduces corporate liability, meaning that a business involved in betting or gambling—along with every person responsible for its operations—may be treated as committing an offence. This reflects heightened scrutiny of digital gambling channels, including offshore websites, mobile apps, and payment systems that can operate across state borders.
Separately, the blocking of Gamban’s gambling-blocking software earlier this month, after it was classified as a gambling service, raises questions about how Indian authorities identify targeted platforms and provide procedural safeguards. That case challenges the broader online enforcement framework.