New Delhi, Oct 3: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released draft rules for regulating online gaming in India, proposing the creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) as a dedicated regulator. The draft rules, issued on Thursday, are open for public consultation until October 31.
The rules aim to operationalise the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, which prohibits real money gaming (RMG) platforms such as online poker, rummy, and fantasy sports, while permitting only social games and e-sports.
The OGAI, likely to be a corporate body headquartered in Delhi-NCR, will have a permanent existence with a common seal and powers to acquire or sell property, enter contracts, and sue or be sued in its own name. It will function digitally, with the ability to summon and examine individuals under oath through technology without requiring physical presence.
The authority will include members from the Ministry of IT, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Youth Affairs, as well as financial and legal experts. It will oversee registration and certification of social games and e-sports, maintain a national registry of approved games, and determine whether a game is lawful or constitutes betting. Registration will be mandatory, valid for up to five years, and required for advertising or operating platforms.
A grievance redressal system will enable users to escalate unresolved complaints to an appellate committee and then to the authority, which must resolve cases within 30 days.
The draft rules define betting-based online games as those involving cash stakes, wagers, or cash-convertible prizes. Violations are serious, non-bailable offences, with company employees held accountable. Penalties under the PROG Act include up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 1 crore for offering RMG, and two years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh for advertising such platforms.
Authorised officers will have powers to search, seize, and arrest without a warrant, and offending websites may be blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act. E-sports will be regulated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, while social games fall under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, with MeitY holding overall regulatory responsibility.
The draft rules are designed to protect users, particularly young players, from addiction, financial losses, and illegal activities, while creating a structured and secure ecosystem for skill-based and social gaming in India. (Agencies)
