The government today notified Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026 which will come into force from 1st of the next month. The objective of the rules is to regulate online gaming and protect citizens, safeguard the financial system, enable coordinated enforcement, and uphold user rights.

The aim of the rules is to provide a clear, transparent and time-bound mechanism to determine whether an online game is an online money game or a permissible online social game or e-sport. It also prescribes mandatory user safety features, grievance redressal and transparency obligations for online game service providers. The rules will lay down the procedure for inquiry and imposition of civil penalties. It will provide an appellate mechanism to ensure accountability, fairness and observance of the principles of natural justice.

Under the rules, an Online Gaming Authority of India has been established as a unified, digital-first regulator for the sector. The authority will comprise 6 members in which Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will be Chairperson and Other 5 members will be Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, Department of Financial Services, and Department of Legal Affairs.

Briefing media about the rules today, Secretary of Ministry of Electronics and IT, S Krishnan said that the framework introduces an optional determination process to classify games as either online money games or social games, which may be initiated by the regulatory authority, service providers, or the Government in specific cases.

The rules will safeguard citizens from the growing menace of online money games while creating an enabling framework for e-sports and online social games.