India, Oct. 4 -- By- Ananay Jain, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat

India's online gaming industry is no longer a fringe phenomenon, it has become a mainstream digital economy powerhouse. With over 450 million players and revenues projected to surpass USD 8.6 billion by 2027, the sector is reshaping how young India entertains, competes, and spends. Yet this meteoric rise has also exposed significant fault lines: gambling-style money games disguised as skill-based platforms, rising risks of addiction, weak consumer safeguards, and unregulated financial flows. Left unchecked, these challenges could overshadow the promise of e-sports and social gaming.

Recognising both the opportunities and the risks, Parliament passed the Promotion and Regul...