Bihar Assembly Passes Bill Banning All Forms of Gambling
The Bihar gambling ban became official reality as the state Assembly unanimously passed comprehensive legislation prohibiting all forms of wagering activities. Following the Union Home Ministry’s directive to states and Union Territories to replace the outdated Public Gambling Act of 1867 with modern legislation, Bihar introduced the Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Bill, 2026. The new law encompasses physical and digital gambling platforms, including mobile app-based operations. Offenders face penalties ranging from six months to five years imprisonment, with fines between Rs 3,000 and Rs 1 lakh. For instance, online gambling violations carry mandatory minimum sentences of one year and fines starting at Rs 50,000. The legislation altogether defines gambling as any betting through physical, online, electronic, or virtual mediums aimed at financial profit.
Bihar Assembly Introduces Comprehensive Gambling Prohibition Bill
The state government introduced the legislation during the monsoon session on Monday, targeting both offline and online wagering operations across Bihar. The bill extends beyond general prohibitions to ban specific games of chance, including big baccarat, six-wheel, wheel of fortune, chemin de fer, craps, flush, brag, three-card game, keno, pontoon 21, roulette, slots, and super pan 9. The legislation grants the state government authority to specify additional games for prohibition from time to time.
The bill prohibits advertisement, printing, publication, or dissemination of information pertaining to gambling activities. Similarly, the legislation targets facilitators and advertisers with stricter enforcement measures. Betting encompasses putting money, virtual currency, digital currency, or any valuable at stake on uncertain event results, even if not legally recognized as currency. The bill defines a common gambling den as any public, commercial place, or online platform that facilitates wagering activities.
The Bihar gambling ban addresses electronic, computer, and mobile application-based operations alongside traditional physical venues. The legislation aims to curb the spread of gambling platforms across the state through enhanced enforcement and tougher penalties for violations.
Legislative Framework Behind the Bihar Gambling Ban
The constitutional authority for the Bihar gambling ban stems from Entry 34 of List II in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which places betting and gambling under the State List. This provision grants state legislatures exclusive authority to make laws on gambling matters.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary explained the legislative rationale, stating that the Union Home Ministry requested states and Union territories to revoke the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and introduce new legislation addressing current gambling trends. Therefore, the bill aims to replace the colonial-era law with the Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2026.
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 remained in force across Bihar until this replacement. The outdated legislation proved inadequate for regulating modern gambling formats, particularly online platforms and digital applications.
The bill must pass through Bihar’s bicameral legislature before implementation. Once both houses approve the legislation, it requires the Governor’s assent and notification in the state gazette to become effective. This procedural framework ensures comprehensive review before the law takes effect.
The state’s legislative approach addresses changing gambling patterns through updated legal provisions suited to contemporary technology-driven wagering operations.
What Penalties Await Offenders Under the New Law?
Police officers holding sub-inspector rank or higher possess authority to search and arrest individuals found gambling or abetting gambling at public places under the Bihar gambling ban. Those caught participating in physical gambling face imprisonment up to six months or fines between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000.
Online gambling violations carry significantly harsher consequences. First-time offenders face mandatory imprisonment between one and three years, with fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. Repeat offenders receive prison sentences between two and seven years, along with fines from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Operators and managers of gambling establishments face six months to three years imprisonment and fines up to Rs 50,000 for initial violations. Subsequent offenses result in sentences between two and five years with fines reaching Rs 1 lakh.
The legislation extends accountability beyond direct participants. Individuals providing bank accounts, mobile apps, digital wallets, or other financial instruments for gambling transactions face up to six months imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10,000.
