NEW DELHI, Aug. 21 -- The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed legislation completely prohibiting online money gaming in India, seven minutes after Union minister for electronics and information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the bill. Cleared by the Union cabinet only a day earlier, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 cleared its first legislative hurdle amid criticism from people in the gaming industry, who cited thousands of crores in revenues and investments involving the sector. The government, however, believes the benefits of banning online money games outweighs the costs, a person aware of the matter said. In Lok Sabha, where the bill sailed through protests by the Opposition, minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the legislation was necessary to tackle a segment of gaming that is of significant concern. The law bans all online money games, from fantasy sports to poker, rummy and online lotteries. Facilitators face up to three years of jail, fines of Rs.1 crore, or both. Advertising such platforms carries penalties of two years' imprisonment and fines up to Rs.50 lakh.P8...