Govt to roll out new online gaming rules from May 1; easier entry for most games but stricter checks for high-risk ones – CNBC TV18
India to notify Online Gaming Act rules from May 1, creating a Gaming Authority, easing registration for most social games while mandating it for high risk and money based titlesThe Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) is set to shortly notify rules for online gaming under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, with the framework scheduled to come into effect from May 1.
The rules aim to operationalise the Online Gaming Authority of India, which will oversee the sector and implement regulatory oversight for different categories of online games.
Under the new framework, Meity has relaxed norms around registration, allowing companies to begin offering e-sports and social gaming services by submitting an application to the authority. This is expected to ease entry barriers and enable faster rollout of compliant gaming platforms.
Notably, registration will not be mandatory for most online social games, signalling a lighter regulatory approach for low-risk categories. However, the rules specify that certain games will require mandatory registration based on defined criteria.
These include games with large user participation, those that involve financial transactions, and those considered to carry higher risk. The country of origin of such games will also be a determining factor in assessing whether registration is required.
The move is aimed at creating a structured regulatory environment while balancing ease of doing business with user protection. By categorising games based on risk and scale, the framework seeks to ensure oversight where necessary without imposing blanket restrictions across the industry.
Also read: Meity proposes stricter AI labelling norms, seeks public feedback till May 7
The notification is expected to provide clarity to gaming companies on compliance requirements and operational guidelines ahead of the May 1 implementation timeline.
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