The Centre has moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of petitions pending before the Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts challenging the constitutional validity of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

The government argued that multiple proceedings on identical issues, alleged violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21, federalism concerns, and equating games of skill with chance could result in conflicting rulings.

The law, India’s first central ban on real money online gaming, criminalises both playing and offering such games.

Passed in August, it faces challenges from platforms like Head Digital. SC will hear the transfer plea next week.

The Supreme Court has paved the way for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season to begin in December, despite uncertainty over the expiring 15-year contract between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

Without mentioning fresh AIFF elections, the court appointed Justice L. Nageswara Rao to oversee a transparent tender for selecting a new commercial partner.

AIFF and FSDL assured coordination, with FSDL waiving rights under the 2010 contract and issuing a no-objection certificate.

The Super Cup will be held in September, while the court reserved its verdict on AIFF’s draft constitution under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The Karnataka High Court will hear a petition on August 30 by leading online gaming company A23 challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

The new law bans all forms of online money gaming in India, removing the prior distinction between games of skill and chance. It criminalises offering, facilitating, or processing financial transactions linked to such games, imposing severe penalties including up to three years imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 crore.

The government defends the ban, citing addiction, financial risks, and links to crime. Critics argue the law infringes constitutional rights by equating skill games with gambling.

The Delhi High Court directed the inclusion of Dragon Boat Racing in the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 at Dal Lake, Srinagar, scheduled from August 21–23.

The petitioner, Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation, affiliated with the International Dragon Boat Federation, argued against its exclusion despite the sport’s global recognition in the Asian Games and Asia Beach Games. 

Justice Sachin Datta held that the sport’s international stature and cultural roots warrant its recognition.

The Court ordered the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to coordinate with J&K authorities while the petitioner provides infrastructure and officials.

[Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation v UOI & Anr.]

The Lok Sabha cleared two key legislations on August 11, 2025: The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, amid heated opposition protests.

The Sports Governance Bill establishes a National Sports Board to regulate sports federations, including BCCI, and introduces a National Sports Tribunal for resolving disputes with final appeals to the Supreme Court. It also addresses age and tenure limits, ethical governance, and disciplinary mechanisms.

The Anti-Doping Amendment aims to strengthen India's anti-doping framework, enhancing institutional autonomy. This move aims to ensure greater compliance with global anti-doping norms and reinforce integrity in Indian sports.

The Lok Sabha passed the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, amid vocal protests led by opposition members, including disruptions and slogans from the Well of the House.

The bill significantly enhances the legal framework to combat doping by aligning India’s laws with global standards set by the UNESCO Convention and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Key reforms include strengthening the independence of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and introducing an independent appeals panel,  as recommended by WADA.

The amendment removes government oversight that previously compromised autonomy. The bill’s passage signals India’s renewed focus on sports integrity and rule-based compliance.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called the upcoming National Sports Governance Bill “historic,” claiming it will usher in a new era of transparency in Indian sports bodies.

Set to be tabled on July 21, the Bill aims to ensure transparency and accountability in National Sports Federations (NSF) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The bill proposes a regulatory board, Ethics Commissions, and Dispute Resolution bodies for NSF & IOA. 

Though the IOA has opposed parts of the Bill, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya clarified that the International Olympic Committee was consulted. The Bill will be taken up alongside the amended anti-doping legislation aligned with WADA norms.

The Supreme Court transferred four PILs, pending before the High Courts of Bombay, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, that were seeking a ban on opinion trading platforms for allegedly promoting illegal betting, citing the need for a joint hearing.

A bench passed the order despite opposition from one petitioner who argued that each case raised distinct legal issues. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Probo Media, supported the move to consolidate proceedings.

The Court, however, ruled that all four PILs should be heard together by the Supreme Court and directed their transfer along with the complete records.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice in a plea filed by a woman candidate alleging bias in the weightlifting coach recruitment by the Sports Authority of Goa.

The recruitment process involves three stages: physical fitness test, skill/practical test, and written tests. The petitioner claimed that one of the skill test examiners was her former coach, against whom she had earlier filed a sexual harassment complaint. 

After her representation, the Goa government agreed to reconduct the test with neutral evaluators, but the Bombay High Court quashed this decision without hearing her.

The Supreme Court has stayed this High Court order, allowing the recruitment process to proceed as usual.

The Delhi High Court has granted a dynamic injunction in favor of DAZN, restraining 23 rogue websites from illegally streaming the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, over which DAZN holds exclusive media rights.

Justice Saradh Banerjee observed a prima facie case of copyright infringement, observing that the websites were concealing their identities and unlawfully broadcasting of DAZN’s content through redirection and masking.

The court held that DAZN is entitled to protection of its intellectual property and granted liberty to seek further blocking of infringing domains. The matter will be heard next on October 8, 2025. (Dazn Limited & And v. Buffsports.me & Ors)

The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the tragic stampede in Bengaluru, which led to the deaths of several individuals and injuries to many.

The court expressed grave concern over the lack of crowd management and safety arrangements at the event, which was reportedly organized without adequate planning or coordination with civic authorities.

 The state has sought time to file answers and is expected to submit its response in a sealed cover.

The bench emphasized the importance of accountability and issued notices to state authorities seeking detailed reports. The matter is now listed for Thursday.

The Karnataka High Court has stayed all coercive action against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and its event partner DNA Entertainment until Thursday, June 12, in connection with the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that killed 11 fans and injured many on June 4. 

The state government, through the Advocate General, assured the Court that no arrests or raids would be carried out in the interim. 

RCB and DNA have filed petitions seeking to quash FIRs filed against them.

A separate hearing for RCB’s Head of Marketing, Nikhil Sosale, is scheduled for June 10. The next joint hearing is set for June 12.

A Bengaluru court remanded four individuals, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Marketing Head Nikhil Sosale and three executives from DNA Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., to 14-day judicial custody following a tragic stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.  

The incident occurred during RCB's IPL victory celebrations, resulting in 11 deaths and 56 injuries.  Authorities allege that the announcement of free entry led to overcrowding and chaos.

An FIR was filed at Cubbon Park Police Station, and the Karnataka government established a one-member commission, headed by retired High Court Justice John Michael Cunha, to investigate the incident.  

While the Karnataka High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials, it denied relief to Nikhil Sosale.

The Karnataka High Court set aside a 4-year doping ban on national basketball player Shashank J Rai, saying proper legal procedure was not followed.

The Court found that key provisions of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022, especially Sections 21 and 22, were violated, including the right to a fair hearing and proper sample handling.

Rai argued that traces of the banned substance (19-Norandrosterone) came from eating pork, and his claim was backed by expert opinions and bills, but was ignored by the Anti-Doping Panel.

The Court said fairness matters more than strict liability while quashing the ban.