New Delhi: The Centre has notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, laying out a detailed framework to regulate online gaming platforms while encouraging the growth of e-sports and social gaming in India. The rules will come into force from May 1, 2026.
Framed under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, passed by Parliament in August last year, the rules aim to address risks linked to online money games while providing clarity for legitimate gaming businesses. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the nodal agency, finalised the rules after consultations across ministries and legal vetting.
At the centre of the framework is the creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India, a digital-first regulator headquartered in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The body will be responsible for classifying games, handling complaints, issuing directions, and coordinating enforcement with financial institutions, law enforcement agencies and state governments.
A key feature of the rules is a structured process to determine whether a game qualifies as an online money game or falls under permissible categories such as e-sports or online social games. The classification will be based on factors including entry fees or stakes, expectations of monetary rewards, revenue models, and whether in-game assets can be monetised outside the platform. The authority is expected to complete such determinations within 90 days.
The rules also introduce a conditional registration system. Registration will be mandatory for games notified by the government based on risk factors such as user vulnerability, financial exposure and scale, and for all games seeking recognition as e-sports. Approved games will receive a digital certificate valid for up to ten years. Online money games will not be eligible for recognition as e-sports under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
User safety has been given significant attention, with platforms required to implement safeguards such as age verification, parental controls, time limits, reporting tools and counselling support. Companies must disclose these features along with their grievance mechanisms when applying for classification or registration.
A two-tier grievance redressal system has also been put in place. Users can first approach the platform, and if dissatisfied, escalate complaints to the authority within 30 days. A further appeal can be made to the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, who will act as the appellate authority.
The rules also aim to curb financial risks by restricting banks and payment systems from facilitating transactions linked to prohibited online money games. Enforcement proceedings are expected to be largely digital and completed within a defined timeline, with penalties determined based on factors such as the scale of violation, gains made, and harm caused to users.
The new framework aligns with the government’s broader push, articulated by Narendra Modi, to position India as a global centre for gaming and innovation while addressing concerns around addictive design and financial harm linked to certain gaming platforms.
BI Bureau
