Assembly passes bill to enact new, stringent anti-gambling law | Hindustan Times
Bihar assembly passed a bill banning all gambling, including online, with strict penalties up to seven years jail and hefty fines.Summary
The Bihar state assembly passed the Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Bill, 2026, which bans all forms of gambling—including online, electronic, and mobile‑based betting—and imposes strict penalties. First‑time offenders face one to three years’ imprisonment and fines of ₹50,000 to ₹5 lakh, while repeat offenders can be jailed up to seven years and fined ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Those who facilitate gambling through digital accounts may receive up to six months’ jail and a ₹10,000 fine. Publishing or advertising gambling content is punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment and ₹5 lakh fines, and police are empowered to search, arrest, and freeze assets of suspected gamblers. The bill replaces the 1867 Public Gambling Act to address modern online gambling trends and aims to revamp gambling regulation in Bihar.
(Source：Hindustan Times)