The Tamil Nadu government stood firm before the Madras High Court on April 4, defending its decision to regulate online gaming. The State emphasized that it holds a parental responsibility to safeguard its citizens, especially teenagers, from the harmful impact of online games.
During the hearing, the State made its case against the plea filed by online gaming companies challenging certain provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022, along with the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (Real Money Games) Regulations, 2025. The bench comprised Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice K Rajasekar.
“Most of the players are between ages 14 and 16. They are a vulnerable class of people whom we want to protect,” the State submitted.
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The State pointed out that a majority of online gamers are aged between 14 to 16 years, making them a vulnerable group in need of protection.
Advocate General PS Raman, appearing for the State, argued that the government had the authority to introduce laws in the interest of public health. Referring to earlier judgments, he explained that the State’s regulations were well within its legal powers under Article 19(1) and 19(6) of the Constitution.
Raman also clarified the State’s position on mandatory Aadhaar-based verification. He said Aadhaar is essential as it provides two-step authentication through OTP, which helps prevent minors from gaining access to online games by misusing documents.
Supporting these arguments, Additional Advocate General Amit Anand Tiwari, representing Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court, said that personal losses due to gaming often extend beyond individuals and impact families and society.
He explained that the use of Aadhaar is strictly for age verification. Tiwari reassured that the State does not access personal data or biometrics, and players face only minimal inconvenience in exchange for safer gaming.
“You're choosing online gaming for your convenience. There may be some inconvenience in return. But there’s no complete prohibition,” he added.
“If we allow other documents, minors might misuse them. But Aadhaar requires access to the registered mobile number, making it harder for minors to bypass verification,” he argued.“It’s easy to say ‘I’m destroying myself,’ but why does the State care? Because personal loss becomes a family and societal loss. So, the State must interfere,” Tiwari told the court.
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He also clarified that the regulations were not related to trade or commerce, but were focused on public health—a domain where the State has constitutional authority to act.
Additionally, the State informed the court that, under Section 5 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022, the courts had previously upheld its authority to set time and monetary limits for online gaming.
The government also addressed concerns about overlap with Central laws, especially IT Rules. It explained that since no self-regulatory body had been notified by the Ministry under Rule 4A, there was no legal conflict, and State laws could still function effectively.
“Even if there is an overlap between State and Central laws, it doesn't make the State law invalid. Both can co-exist,” the State submitted.
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After hearing the arguments from the State, the court scheduled the next hearing for April 7, allowing the petitioners to file their response.
The case is titled Play Games 24x7 Private Limited And Anr Vs State Of Tamil Nadu And Ors & Connected Matters and is listed under
Case No. WP 6784 of 2025.
