The Indian government has asked the Supreme Court for another week to file additional documents in a landmark Goods and Services Tax (GST) case involving online gaming, worth around Rs2.5 trillion ($30 billion), local outlet Storyboard 18 reported.
The request, submitted Monday, came just days after Parliament passed a law banning online real money gaming. It also followed an earlier plea for a two-week extension.
High-Stakes Dispute
The case ranks among India’s largest-ever tax battles. At its core lies the question: Should GST apply to online games? On August 12, Supreme Court judges reserved their decision after hearing arguments from industry giants like Gameskraft and Delta Corp, as well as the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF).
Legal experts believe the recent ban could influence the government’s final position. During hearings, lawyers for gaming operators argued that skill-based games differ fundamentally from gambling under India’s Constitution. They cited previous court rulings, criticized attempts to tax online rummy stakes as “legally baseless,” and dismissed casino tax calculations as flawed.
Industry Pushback
The gaming industry urged the Court to strike down the massive tax demand, warning that treating skill-based games as gambling would cripple the sector.
The Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling could redefine how India taxes online gaming—and reshape the industry’s future—especially in the wake of the new nationwide ban.
