Haryana proposes up to 7-year jail term, hefty fines for match-fixing, tables Bill

The Haryana Government on Tuesday introduced the Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Bill, 2025, in the Assembly with an aim at curbing match-fixing, spot-fixing and gambling in sports.

Will repeal outdated law

The Bill will replace the obsolete Public Gambling Act, 1867, and includes provisions to combat gambling syndicates

It will empower law enforcement for searches and seizures, and forfeit assets linked to gambling offences

The Bill proposes stringent punishments, including a minimum imprisonment of three years (extendable to five years) and a fine of at least Rs 5 lakh for match-fixing and spot-fixing. For repeat offenders, the jail term will increase to a minimum of five years (extendable to seven years) with a fine of at least Rs 7 lakh.

The new legislation aims at repealing the Public Gambling Act, 1867, which the Law Commission of India, in its 249th report, had termed obsolete. The Bill seeks to prevent betting in sports and elections as well as match-fixing and spot-fixing in sports to protect the public from fraud.

Currently, Haryana lacks specific provisions to address match-fixing. The Bill defines match-fixing as any intentional act of commission or omission in sports to unduly favour any person or team, including instances where players underperform for financial gain, share insider information or alter ground conditions for consideration. It also covers all individuals involved in organising games such as officials, coaches, referees and ground staff.

Spot-fixing is defined as the intentional manipulation of specific events within a sporting match for wrongful gain. The Bill also distinguishes between “games of skill” (where skill predominates) and “games of chance” (where chance predominates), allowing the state government to notify games falling under either category.

The Bill includes provisions to penalise gambling, membership in gambling syndicates and operating common gambling houses. It empowers executive magistrates or gazetted police officers to authorise searches, seizures and arrests without warrants. Additionally, any property derived from gambling offences will be liable for attachment or forfeiture under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).