New gaming rules aimed at easing compliance for startups while tightening oversight on harmful content: MeitY Secy – CNBC TV18
India to implement new online gaming rules from May 1, easing compliance for startups while tightening oversight of harmful and illegal games, including offshore betting platformsIndia's upcoming online gaming rules are designed to reduce compliance burdens for startups while strengthening oversight of potentially harmful content, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), S Krishnan, told CNBC-TV18.
The new framework, which comes into effect from May 1 under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, seeks to simplify regulatory processes even as it sharpens scrutiny over games that could pose risks to users, particularly children.
Krishnan said the rules have been refined after an extensive consultation process. "We received about 2,500 types of comments on the rules… based on those comments and suggestions, we have simplified the rules further. We have reduced the number of procedural steps that are needed," he said.
A key change is the relaxation of registration requirements for online social games. According to Krishnan, "we have… made the process of registration for online social games fully optional. It is not mandatory at all." He added that only certain categories, such as esports, will require compulsory registration, while the government will notify other games that may need to comply based on specific criteria.
These criteria include the potential harm a game may cause, especially to children, the scale of financial transactions involved, the number of users, and the origin of the game. This targeted approach is intended to allow easier market entry for startups and innovators while ensuring that high-risk segments remain under regulatory watch.
The rules also streamline the approval process by introducing a single-stage determination mechanism. "The entire process of inquiry is now only once at the stage of determination… and the authority has to make its decision within 90 days," Krishnan said, noting that this will reduce delays and uncertainty for gaming companies.
The broader framework aims to operationalise the Online Gaming Authority of India, which will oversee classification and compliance across categories such as online social games, online money games and esports. Industry participants are expected to benefit from faster approvals and clearer regulatory pathways.
At the same time, the government is tightening enforcement around illegal and harmful gaming activity. Krishnan said financial institutions will have a role in ensuring compliance. "They will have to determine, when facilitating transactions, whether the game is legal or not," he said, referring to provisions that prohibit transactions linked to banned online money games.
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The ministry has also stepped up action against offshore betting and gambling platforms. "More than 3,000 such applications and URLs have already been blocked in the territory of India, and we continue to take action on a continuous basis," Krishnan said.
The combination of eased entry norms and stricter enforcement is aimed at fostering a more structured and accountable online gaming ecosystem, while supporting the growth of legitimate businesses in the sector.
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