New Regulations for Online Gaming Introduced by Indian Government
The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has released new regulations for online gaming, aiming to promote esports while banning real-money games. The regulations will facilitate the establishment of an online gaming authority and outline specific conditions for monitoring and registration. Most online games will not require mandatory registration, making the process more accessible. Stakeholders have provided significant feedback, indicating a strong interest in the future of online gaming in India. Discover the details of these new regulations and their potential impact on the gaming landscape.
| Apr 23, 2026, 15:55 IST
Introduction of New Online Gaming Regulations
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced on Wednesday the long-awaited notification of regulations aimed at promoting and regulating online gaming. This initiative will also facilitate the establishment of an online gaming authority. According to IT Secretary S. Krishnan, most online games—except those involving real money, which are explicitly prohibited—will not require mandatory registration or designation.
Monitoring and Registration Requirements
Monitoring will only be initiated under specific circumstances. However, mandatory registration will be required for esports as specified in the original act. Krishnan emphasized the intention to keep this process as minimal as possible. Most games that do not involve monetary stakes should operate without any obligations, whether they are designated or registered. Thus, this entire process is optional, and no one is compelled to apply for designation as an online real-money game, social game, or esports.
Conditions for Designation
Nonetheless, such 'designation' will apply under three conditions. The first condition is when the authority takes cognizance on its own, the second involves esports games, and the third allows the central government to notify a specific category of social games, for which no specific notification has been issued yet. Krishnan further mentioned that the regulations clearly define user safety features.
Impact on Online Gaming in India
This act imposes a ban on online real-money gaming in India while promoting esports and online social gaming. The ministry had invited feedback on these regulations in October 2025 and received 2,500 suggestions from stakeholders.