India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology unveiled comprehensive draft rules in October 2025 to regulate the country’s booming online gaming industry. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2025, created under the recently enacted PROG Act, establishes a national framework distinguishing legitimate e-sports and social games from prohibited online money games.
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The Online Gaming Authority of India
At the heart of these regulations sits the newly established Online Gaming Authority of India, headquartered in the National Capital Region. This corporate body operates with civil court-like powers to determine game classifications, register legitimate platforms, issue directives, and impose penalties for non-compliance.
The Authority comprises six ex-officio members representing key ministries including Electronics & IT, Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs & Sports, and Financial Services. Functioning primarily as a digital office, the Authority can conduct proceedings without requiring physical presence while maintaining enforcement capabilities.
| Key Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Timeline | 90 days for processing applications |
| Certificate Validity | Up to 5 years (provider’s choice) |
| Appeal Window | 30 days from Authority decision |
| Money Game Determination | Based on stakes, wagers, cash rewards |
| National Registry | Public list of registered games |
Voluntary Registration for Social Games
Unlike mandatory e-sports registration, online social games can operate without registration. However, registration offers benefits including government promotion support, inclusion in the National Online Social Games and E-sports Registry, and enhanced credibility. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will issue guidelines for age-appropriate content categorization across recreational, educational, and skill development purposes.
E-sports face stricter requirements—they must first obtain recognition under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, before applying for Authority registration. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports oversees e-sports recognition and promotion initiatives.
Learn more about India’s gaming regulations and explore additional tech policy updates at TechnoSports.
Identifying Online Money Games
The Authority determines whether games qualify as prohibited “online money games” based on critical parameters: whether participation requires monetary stakes or deposits used as wagers, whether winnings are redeemable for cash, and whether money deposits serve as entry prerequisites. Games classified as online money games face immediate cease-and-desist orders, advertising bans, and public blacklisting.
Three-Tier Grievance Redressal
User protection receives significant attention through a structured three-tier complaint system. Users first approach the game provider’s internal mechanism, then escalate unresolved issues to the Grievance Appellate Committee (established under IT Intermediary Rules, 2021), and finally to the Authority itself. Each tier maintains 30-day resolution targets, ensuring expeditious complaint handling.
Penalties and Enforcement
Non-compliance triggers penalties considering violation severity, user harm, repetitive offenses, and unfair gains. The Authority can suspend or cancel registrations, prohibit game offerings, and recover penalties as land revenue arrears. Registration certificates face cancellation if games undergo material changes making them online money games, violate repeated directives, or breach existing laws.
A transitional provision allows 180 days for repaying user funds collected before the PROG Act’s enforcement, ensuring financial obligations don’t trap legitimate operators or users.
These rules signal India’s commitment to nurturing legitimate gaming ecosystems while protecting users from exploitative practices, positioning the nation as a regulated yet innovation-friendly gaming market.
FAQs
Is registration mandatory for all online games in India?
E-sports registration is mandatory, but online social games can operate without registration voluntarily.
How long does the Authority take to process game registrations?
The Authority processes applications within 90 days from submission date, excluding recognition time for e-sports.
