# Bihar Act 2026 tightens gambling rules, may conflict with Centre’s PROG Act 2026-08-18T15:10:04+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Bihar has notified the Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2026, repealing the 159-year-old Public Gambling Act, 1867. The state law, published on August 13, 2026, now runs alongside the Centre's Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROG Act), whose rules were notified on April 24, 2026. In case of inconsistency between the two, the PROG Act will prevail as it explicitly overrides other laws under Section 18, while the Bihar Act only claims overriding effect over other state laws. The Bihar Act defines gambling broadly to include physical and online forms, and lists specific games as games of chance, such as Baccarat, Roulette, and Slots. It does not recognise or promote e-sports or social games, unlike the PROG Act which categorises online games into e-sports, social games, and prohibited money games. The PROG Act's definition of an online money game does not distinguish between skill and chance, while the Bihar Act defines a game of chance as one where outcome is predominantly determined by luck. The Bihar Act makes promoting gambling material punishable by 2-3 years in prison and fines. It also holds individuals who knowingly allow their financial accounts for gambling liable for up to six months in jail or Rs 10,000 fine. In contrast, the PROG Act places liability on financial service providers. Enforcement under the Bihar Act relies on existing police, while the PROG Act establishes the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) as a dedicated regulator. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Medianama's report is a neutral, comparative legal explainer. It does not favour or criticise either the Bihar government or the Centre, instead detailing technical differences between the two laws. The framing highlights potential conflicts, particularly the PROG Act's overriding effect, which limits Bihar's autonomy. The piece notes that Bihar's Act lacks provisions for promoting e-sports, a gap the Centre fills. This coverage suggests that state-level gambling laws may face legal challenges if they contradict central policy. The key takeaway: businesses operating in Bihar must comply with both acts, but central rules will dominate in disputes. Watch for the OGAI's first determinations under the PROG Act. The coverage is uniform straight reporting with no discernible slant, as the single source (Medianama) presents a detailed legal comparison without editorialising. ## Coverage Coverage: 1 source, 1 neutral - medianama.com (neutral report) Straight legal comparison between Bihar Act and PROG Act, no editorial slant. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Bihar, Bihar Gambling Prohibition Act 2026, PROG Act 2025 Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bihar-act-2026-tightens-gambling-rules-may-conflict-with-centres-prog-act/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bihar-act-2026-tightens-gambling-rules-may-conflict-with-centres-prog-act/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/