India, April 29 -- India's move to establish a national framework for online gaming emerged from a convergence of opportunity and risk. Over the past decade, digital gaming has grown rapidly, supported by widespread smartphone adoption, affordable connectivity, and a technology-driven population. This has created opportunities for innovation, skill development, creative industries, and employment generation. Recreational gaming and organised competitive formats demonstrated the potential to contribute to the digital economy.

Alongside these opportunities, however, the unchecked expansion of online money gaming, particularly betting and wagering platforms, posed serious social and economic concerns. Many such services operated across Stat...