India Set to Launch New Regulations for Online Gaming: What You Need to Know
New Regulations for Online Gaming in India
New Delhi: Starting May 1, India will implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for the rapidly expanding online gaming industry, as announced by the government on Wednesday.
The newly established guidelines, under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, aim to safeguard users—particularly children and vulnerable populations—from financial and psychological risks while also positioning India as a global leader in gaming and digital innovation.
Developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, outline the operational framework for enforcing the primary legislation, which was passed by Parliament in August 2025. These rules were finalized following extensive consultations among various ministries and legal reviews, demonstrating the government's commitment to providing clarity and regulatory stability in an industry that has experienced significant growth amid rising concerns about addictive and exploitative gaming platforms.
Central to this new regulatory framework is the creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India, a digital-first regulatory body responsible for overseeing game classification, compliance, grievance resolution, and enforcement.
Based in New Delhi and operating as an attached office of MeitY, the Authority will comprise representatives from essential ministries, including Home Affairs, Finance, Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Law and Justice.
The Authority will maintain a central registry of online money games, issue regulatory directives, and collaborate with financial institutions and law enforcement to curb illegal transactions associated with banned platforms.
The new rules also establish a systematic approach to determine whether a game qualifies as an online money game, a permissible online social game, or an e-sport.
This classification process can be initiated by the Authority, service providers, or through government notifications. Objective criteria, such as the presence of stakes, expectations of monetary rewards, revenue models, and the potential to monetize in-game rewards outside the platform, will be utilized for assessment.
Decisions regarding classification are expected to be made within 90 days, providing timely clarity for industry participants.
A significant aspect of the regulatory framework is a conditional registration system. Registration will be required only for categories identified by the government based on risk factors like user vulnerability, scale, and financial exposure, as well as for all games seeking recognition as e-sports.
Games that receive approval will be issued a digital certificate valid for up to 10 years, while online money games will not be eligible for recognition as e-sports under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.