Govt panel recommends regulatory body, new law for online gaming: Report
2 years, 3 months ago

Govt panel recommends regulatory body, new law for online gaming: Report

Hindustan Times  

A recent draft report from a government panel has recommended Centre to tighten the regulatory framework governing online games. The draft report proposes Centre to consider enacting a separate law to regulate online gaming. The report says the Centre should consider enacting a separate law to regulate online gaming as a “long-term measure". The draft report proposes that rules should apply to both real money and free games of skill, covering e-sports, online fantasy sports, card games and such diverse casual games that may impose serious impact. Any online gaming platform offering real money online games to Indian users should have a legal entity incorporated under Indian law, the report suggests.

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History of this topic

Securing the game: Addressing challenges in India's online gaming industry
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Securing the game: Addressing challenges in India's online gaming industry

Hindustan Times  

The gaming industry has undergone seismic changes, evolving from rudimentary arcade games to expansive multiplayer online platforms. India’s gaming sector has witnessed astounding growth catalysed by affordable smartphones, low data costs, and Covid-19 restrictions, with over 450 million online gamers growing at 38% annually, making India the second-largest market globally. Legislative efforts to regulate online gaming, such as laws introduced …

Tamil Nadu to create ‘white list’ on gaming apps
3 weeks ago

Tamil Nadu to create ‘white list’ on gaming apps

New Indian Express  

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu could become one of the first states to have a ‘white list’ on online gaming sites and apps after it brings out a framework to regulate pay-to-play gaming in the state. “Getting registered with the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority is a kind of white list,” according to Md Nasimuddin, chairperson of TNOGA, which is coming out …

Global Gaming In India: How Policy Reforms Can Unlock New Opportunities
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Global Gaming In India: How Policy Reforms Can Unlock New Opportunities

ABP News  

Online gaming in India is experiencing a boom, with nearly 430 million players actively engaged in a variety of games. With the right support and regulatory clarity, the global gaming industry will be drawn to India, paving the way for technological advancements, bridging the digital divide, and even inspiring educational game development. Thus, the imposition of an enhanced 28 per …

GNLU: 3rd Legislative Drafting Competition : Online Gaming And Gambling Regulation Act 2025 [Register By 26th December]
1 month ago

GNLU: 3rd Legislative Drafting Competition : Online Gaming And Gambling Regulation Act 2025 [Register By 26th December]

Live Law  

The GNLU Centre for Research in Criminal Justice Sciences is organising the third edition of its Legislative Drafting Competition. Currently, most states prohibit gambling under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, but the law does not cover the rapidly expanding online gaming industry. The Online Gaming and Gambling Act, 2025 should provide a comprehensive framework that regulates the growing online gaming …

Suggestions from over 100 entities on Digital Competition Bill under consideration: FM
1 month ago

Suggestions from over 100 entities on Digital Competition Bill under consideration: FM

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The government consulted over 100 entities including some of the businesses likely to be impacted by the proposed digital competition law, such as Amazon, Apple India Pvt. The minister told the House in a written reply that pre-legislative consultations on the Draft Digital Competition Bill were held as per the ministry of corporate affairs’ policy. Closed-door consultations were …

Amid lack of regulation, online gaming in limbo, failing to attract investment
1 month, 1 week ago

Amid lack of regulation, online gaming in limbo, failing to attract investment

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Centre’s failure in appointing proposed self-regulatory bodies for the online gaming sector has left the industry in limbo, with small firms struggling to get investors and large ones innovating without any legal guardrails to try and rope in more paying consumers. Industry stakeholders, policy consultants and lawyers told Mint that next year’s expected Supreme Court rulings on …

Advancing India’s Online Gaming Regulation: One Measure at a Time
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Advancing India’s Online Gaming Regulation: One Measure at a Time

ABP News  

By Dharmender Jhamb & Anusha Jain Online gaming in India is experiencing an exponential rise, transforming from a niche hobby into a mainstream entertainment powerhouse. Efforts Towards Regulating Online Gaming A significant effort to streamline the online gaming sector came in April 2023 when the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology amended the IT rules. Types of Measures to regulate …

Gaming Can Give India An Edge In AI Innovations: Here's What How The Govt Can Help
4 months, 1 week ago

Gaming Can Give India An Edge In AI Innovations: Here's What How The Govt Can Help

ABP News  

During the 78th Independence Day speech, from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort, PM Modi detailed a plan for ‘Viksit Bharat @2047. The online gaming industry has become one such arena for attracting higher investments from domestic and foreign investors that could trigger skilled-job creation, and multiply innovations in game design and development. Online Gaming & Indian GDP According …

Getting to a new level in India’s online gaming sector
8 months ago

Getting to a new level in India’s online gaming sector

The Hindu  

The Prime Minister’s vision to establish India as a prominent global gaming hub has received renewed attention as he engaged with seven of the top gamers in the country. The online gaming industry forms a critical part of the Digital India vision and initiative. Rapid growth The online gaming industry in India has seen a rapid expansion of 28% CAGR …

Here's what PM Modi said on regulatory body for online gaming in India
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Here's what PM Modi said on regulatory body for online gaming in India

India TV News  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met some of the top gaming content creators in India. Answering his question, PM Modi said that the government does not support regulation but if needed it will impose restrictions under the law or would mould it according to the country’s needs. PM Modi also said strengthening the online gaming sector by bringing it under …

Decoding India's Online Gaming Landscape: Skill, Chance, and Regulation
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Decoding India's Online Gaming Landscape: Skill, Chance, and Regulation

The Quint  

In recent years, India has witnessed an unprecedented surge in online gaming, transforming it into a thriving industry with immense economic potential. One of the key aspects shaping the online gaming regulatory landscape in India is the distinction between games of skill and games of chance. Real Money Gaming stands out as the dominant model, driving a substantial portion of …

Regulating India’s online gaming industry
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Regulating India’s online gaming industry

The Hindu  

As we know, market failures manifesting in various forms such as monopolies, externalities, and information asymmetries not only diminish economic value but also erode societal well-being, which results in decline in the trust of users. The online gaming industry in India is predominantly a home-grown start-up ecosystem growing at 27% CAGR. Similar to other forms of digital media, the meteoric …

Govt has right to regulate online gaming, HC told
1 year, 1 month ago

Govt has right to regulate online gaming, HC told

Hindustan Times  

The Union government has the legislative competence to regulate matters of online gaming, the Centre has told the Delhi high court. HT Image It made the statement in response to a petition by NGO Social Organisation for Creating Humanity challenging the constitutional and legislative validity of the Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2023, which aim to regulate online gaming. In an …

‘Very concerned about Lava chief Rai’s arrest’
1 year, 2 months ago

‘Very concerned about Lava chief Rai’s arrest’

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The arrest of a top Lava International Ltd executive is concerning given the phonemaker’s position as a leading Indian brand in the growing smartphone industry, Union minister of state for information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said. The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested Hari Om Rai, co-founder, chairman and managing director of Lava, as well as three officials linked to …

All states for 28% GST on online money gaming effective from 1 Oct: Revenue Secy
1 year, 3 months ago

All states for 28% GST on online money gaming effective from 1 Oct: Revenue Secy

Live Mint  

New Delhi: As of now 18 states have passed legislative changes to implement the 28% Goods and Services Tax on online gaming, horse racing and casinos and all the remaining states have agreed to make the necessary changes which will have effect from 1 October, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra said at a briefing. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters that …

‘Government intervention will give regulation of online gaming a lot more teeth’
1 year, 4 months ago

‘Government intervention will give regulation of online gaming a lot more teeth’

The Hindu  

The E-Gaming Federation, a not-for-profit organisation to protect consumer interest and self-regulate the Indian gaming sector, has welcomed the recent guidelines proposed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology for regulation of the industry. The Union government had proposed steps to regulate online gaming by way of amendments to the Information Technology Rules. The government stepping in will give …

Evolving Legal Framework Of Online Skill-Based And Chance-Based Games
1 year, 4 months ago

Evolving Legal Framework Of Online Skill-Based And Chance-Based Games

Live Law  

In the realm of Indian law, a pivotal distinction exists between "Game of Skills" and "Game of Chance." Several Indian States, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, and Assam, adopted a strict stance, barring all involvement in real-money games of skill and chance. The Meghalaya and Nagaland legislations define "game of skill", as games where there is preponderance of …

Only intention of online gaming companies is to make money through inducements and addiction, Tamil Nadu govt. tells Madras High Court
1 year, 4 months ago

Only intention of online gaming companies is to make money through inducements and addiction, Tamil Nadu govt. tells Madras High Court

The Hindu  

The argument related to rummy and poker being games of skill and not games of chance can at best be raised by players and not the online gaming companies whose only intention is to make money through inducements and consequent addiction, the State government argued before the Madras High Court on Monday. Should not the State be worried about this?” …

Video-gaming firms write to PMO seeking distinction from real-money gaming industry
1 year, 5 months ago

Video-gaming firms write to PMO seeking distinction from real-money gaming industry

The Hindu  

As many as 45 video game companies in India on July 26, 2023, wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office and to the Ministries of Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, seeking to put distance between themselves and the real-money gaming industry, amid the ‘widespread confusion’ caused by the latter being referred to as ‘online gaming’. “‘Online Games’ is …

Explained | Will 28% GST on online gaming affect its growth?
1 year, 5 months ago

Explained | Will 28% GST on online gaming affect its growth?

The Hindu  

The story so far: At the recently concluded 50th GST Council meeting, it was decided that online gaming would be taxed at 28% on the full-face value of the placed bets. Malay Kumar Shukla, secretary at the industry body E-Gaming Federation, termed the decision “extremely unfortunate”, saying “a tax burden where taxes exceed revenues will not only make the online …

Online Gaming Companies Are Providers of Service and Should be Taxed As Such
1 year, 6 months ago

Online Gaming Companies Are Providers of Service and Should be Taxed As Such

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: The taxation policy on gaming has proven to be a contentious issue with the industry and the GoM taking contrarian views on what rate and value the online gaming platforms should be taxed at. However, in a recent report, it was noted that the key contention for decision making is whether the prize pool which is the “actionable claim” …

Three gaming self-regulatory bodies to seek govt nod
1 year, 8 months ago

Three gaming self-regulatory bodies to seek govt nod

Live Mint  

Three collectives, representing over 200 Indian online gaming companies, are set to reach out to the ministry of electronics and information technology for recognition as self-regulating organisations, two people familiar with the development said. SROs will be the mainstay of the self-regulatory mechanism for online gaming, and any gaming firm looking to offer products in India must be registered with …

MeitY Rules for Online Gaming Ensure Safe and Responsible Gaming in India
1 year, 8 months ago

MeitY Rules for Online Gaming Ensure Safe and Responsible Gaming in India

The Quint  

India is the second-largest gaming market in the world, just behind China. Last week MeitY’s notified rules for regulating the online gaming sector that outlines robust steps to address these concerns and usher in a new era of safe and responsible gaming. Responsible gaming The MeitY rules aim to address issues around financial losses and user harm for online gaming …

What Do Govt's New Online Gaming Rules Mean & How Has Industry Reacted? EXPLAINED
1 year, 9 months ago

What Do Govt's New Online Gaming Rules Mean & How Has Industry Reacted? EXPLAINED

News 18  

The Centre on Thursday notified norms to regulate the online gaming sector wherein real money games involving wagering or betting have been prohibited. The industry on Thursday said the new rules for online gaming will spur innovation, boost investor confidence and weed out gambling platforms while making the sector globally competitive, as per a PTI report. All India Gaming Federation …

Self-regulation of online gaming will need safeguards
1 year, 9 months ago

Self-regulation of online gaming will need safeguards

Live Mint  

Video games are bad for you? The draft rules adopt a light-touch approach to regulation and provide for industry-created Self-Regulatory Bodies that would be responsible for registering online games and developing a framework for user protection. To ensure independence of SRBs, the registration conditions also call for provisions in the SRB’s Articles of Association to ensure independent functioning that is …

Intellectual Property Rights In The Gaming Industry
1 year, 11 months ago

Intellectual Property Rights In The Gaming Industry

Live Law  

From a child to an adult, modern gaming has been an interest for most of the generations. Since the gaming sector is not specifically regulated in India, video games are also not included in any one particular category of intellectual property law. Live Streaming: There are numerous legal issues associated with broadcasting video games on different video platforms for paid …

Why MeitY Should Play It Right When Selecting India's Gaming Rules
1 year, 11 months ago

Why MeitY Should Play It Right When Selecting India's Gaming Rules

ABP News  

A November 2022 report by Boston Consulting Group came up with some startling facts and figures on India’s gaming industry. The rules also provide for KYC procedures almost equating the gaming industry with the banking sector, observance of due diligence, establishment of grievance redressal mechanism, prominent publishing of rules and regulations, privacy policy, user agreements, and so on. The rules …

Real money gaming firms suggest graded KYC, approve of Centre’s draft amendment to regulate online gaming
1 year, 11 months ago

Real money gaming firms suggest graded KYC, approve of Centre’s draft amendment to regulate online gaming

The Hindu  

The real money gaming industry, which includes online rummy and fantasy sports wagering platforms, largely approved of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s draft online gaming amendment, an industry executive who attended a consultation meeting on Tuesday said. “Certain operators suggested that KYC could be done in a graded fashion,” as is the case with mobile wallet operators, Mr. …

Don’t regulate us like real money gaming platforms, say video gaming firms
1 year, 11 months ago

Don’t regulate us like real money gaming platforms, say video gaming firms

The Hindu  

Representatives from the video gaming industry on Monday, in a letter viewed by The Hindu, sent a representation to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, asking the government to treat video games separately from real money games that involve wagering real money. “The current draft notification combines ‘video games’ and ‘online games played for stakes’ into the same regulatory …

Explained | How is India moving to regulate online gaming?
2 years ago

Explained | How is India moving to regulate online gaming?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has released draft amendments in relation to online gaming. The Minister of State at MeitY Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the draft proposes a self-regulatory mechanism which, in future, may also regulate the content of online gaming. ‘Winning’ constitutes any prize, in cash or kind, intended to be given to …

Govt Proposes Self Regulation for Online Gaming Cos, Gamers' Verification; Forbids Betting
2 years ago

Govt Proposes Self Regulation for Online Gaming Cos, Gamers' Verification; Forbids Betting

News 18  

The government has proposed self-regulatory bodies for online gaming companies operating in India in a draft amendment to IT rules, but will not allow betting. “…the intermediary shall, before hosting or publishing or advertising an online game for a consideration, ascertain from the online gaming intermediary and verify from the concerned self-regulatory body,” the draft rules said. Chandrasekhar said online …

Indian government proposes online gaming policy; wagering not allowed
2 years ago

Indian government proposes online gaming policy; wagering not allowed

The Hindu  

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Monday proposed an amendment to bring online gaming under the ambit of the Information Technology Rules, 2021. “Any game that allows or permits wagering on its outcome is effectively a no-go area,” Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar said in an interaction with the media. “This will boost the legitimate domestic online …

Online Gaming Companies Can Have Self Regulation And Due Diligence: Govt
2 years ago

Online Gaming Companies Can Have Self Regulation And Due Diligence: Govt

News 18  

New Delhi: The government has proposed a self-regulatory mechanism, mandatory verification of players and physical Indian address for online gaming companies, according to the draft online gaming rules published on Monday. "The draft amendments are aimed at addressing the said need while enabling the growth of the online gaming industry in a responsible manner," the notice said. The draft amendments …

Mint Explainer: Fixing the mess in India's online gaming
2 years ago

Mint Explainer: Fixing the mess in India's online gaming

Live Mint  

The Centre has kicked off efforts to make clear rules for online gaming and e-sports, and has brought them under the Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, respectively. Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar has taken note of the concerns about online gaming, referring to “violence abetting video games, addiction …

The centre-state conundrum: Who should regulate online gaming in India and decide on its legalities
2 years ago

The centre-state conundrum: Who should regulate online gaming in India and decide on its legalities

Firstpost  

There is a lot of noise around the subject of who should get to regulate online gaming and online gambling, the state governments or the central government. Public Gambling Act, 1867: Since there is no central-level law that deals with online gaming, several State governments have framed their laws drawing from the spirit of the Public Gambling Act, 1867, a …

Online Gaming In India To Have MeitY As Nodal Ministry Now: Here's How The Industry Is Reacting
2 years ago

Online Gaming In India To Have MeitY As Nodal Ministry Now: Here's How The Industry Is Reacting

ABP News  

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has been appointed as the nodal ministry for online gaming, a move the industry said would bring clarity and certainty for all stakeholders. The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports lauded the government’s move to appoint the IT Ministry as the nodal ministry to regulate the online gaming sector, saying, "the appointment of MeitY …

Deep diving into the future of the online gaming industry in India
2 years ago

Deep diving into the future of the online gaming industry in India

Firstpost  

Online gaming in India has a ton of potential as an industry in India. India finally recognised online gaming as a legitimate form of entertainment and welcomed a culture centered purely around gaming. Crystal-gazing at the future of the industry, here are some of the other developments that will soon go mainstream and aid the growth of online gaming: Rise …

They Don’t Pay Taxes: All India Gaming Federation Wants Government To Tackle Foreign Online Gaming Companies
2 years ago

They Don’t Pay Taxes: All India Gaming Federation Wants Government To Tackle Foreign Online Gaming Companies

News 18  

Despite the massive growth in the “online gaming” sector in India, the latest changes in the taxation structure may make it difficult for gaming companies to survive the next two years of economic turmoil. But this growth now faces uncertain times because of the planned changes with taxes on online games, which could push Indians towards offshore gaming companies. Foreign …

The dark side of online gaming: From people in debt to ruined families, online gaming in India needs to be regulated
2 years, 1 month ago

The dark side of online gaming: From people in debt to ruined families, online gaming in India needs to be regulated

Firstpost  

There have been many instances where people have ruined themselves financially and even died by suicide because they were addicted to online gambling and online gaming. The Online gaming has become extremely popular in India and has grown into a massive industry, with millions of people, spending billions of rupees across various games, every year. What this basically means, is …

All real money online games to come under federal oversight: Reports
2 years, 1 month ago

All real money online games to come under federal oversight: Reports

Op India  

As per media reports, the Government of India is planning to regulate all online games including real-money games based on skills as well as chance. For example, the Supreme Court of India says that rummy and certain fantasy games are skill-based and legal, however, state courts have different views over such games including poker. PM Modi expressed concerns over mental …

Government plans federal oversight of all real-money online games: Report
2 years, 1 month ago

Government plans federal oversight of all real-money online games: Report

Live Mint  

India's planned regulation of online gaming will apply to all real-money games after the prime minister's office overruled a proposal to only regulate games of skill and leave out games of chance, according to a government document and three sources. An Indian panel tasked with drafting the regulation in August proposed a new body to decide whether a game involves …

Fantasy Gaming: 1 in 2 Indians Want Loss Limit of Rs 50-500 Per Game
2 years, 1 month ago

Fantasy Gaming: 1 in 2 Indians Want Loss Limit of Rs 50-500 Per Game

News 18  

As the debate on online gaming heats up in India, more than one in two Indians want a loss limit of Rs 50-500 per game for online and fantasy gaming, a report said on Tuesday. For 65 per cent out of 9,507 respondents, online fantasy sports is akin to gambling/wagering or a game of chance with risks in contrast to …

Online gaming in India likely to attract 28 per cent GST instead of 18, calculation method to be tweaked
2 years, 1 month ago

Online gaming in India likely to attract 28 per cent GST instead of 18, calculation method to be tweaked

Firstpost  

The Indian government has finally decided that online gaming essentially falls under the category of ‘demerit goods’ and hence should attract a 28 per cent GST. At present online gaming attracts 18 per cent GST, with the tax being levied only on gross gaming revenue, which is the fees charged by online gaming portals. Although the GoM deliberated on separate …

Explained | Which Indian States Have Banned Online Gaming and Why?
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | Which Indian States Have Banned Online Gaming and Why?

The Quint  

On 16 November, the Madras High Court withdrew a batch of petitions challenging a Tamil Nadu state ordinance that bans online gaming and online gambling, after the state government said that the ordinance had not come into effect yet. Even as this happens, a central government-appointed task force has recommended a new nationwide legislation to regulate online gaming and digital …

Interministerial panel proposes central law to govern online gaming
2 years, 1 month ago

Interministerial panel proposes central law to govern online gaming

Hindustan Times  

An Interministerial Task Force set up to explore new regulations for online gaming has recommended central legislation to govern it, calling the Public Gambling Act of 1867, which currently covers it, incapable “of covering/defending/dealing” with digital-based activities and the emerging technologies associated with it. Some states have prohibited both online games of chance and skill involving any real money element.Andhra …

All India Gaming Federation challenges constitutional validity of T.N. Ordinance banning online games
2 years, 2 months ago

All India Gaming Federation challenges constitutional validity of T.N. Ordinance banning online games

The Hindu  

All India Gaming Federation has approached the Madras High Court challenging the constitutional validity of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Ordinance, 2022. When things stood thus, the State government amended the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, 1930, in 2021 and banned even games of skill such as rummy and poker if they were played for …

Govt panel pushes for games on Indian epics
2 years, 2 months ago

Govt panel pushes for games on Indian epics

Hindustan Times  

A government task force has recommended that online and video games be developed using Indian epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana, and iconic Indian films such as Sholay and Bahubali as plot inspirations, according to documents seen by HT. Headed by I&B ministry joint secretary Vikram Sahay, it suggests “applied games may be included in the school curriculum, and financial …

Online Gaming In India: A Look At The Sector's Evolution And Regulation Over The Years
2 years, 3 months ago

Online Gaming In India: A Look At The Sector's Evolution And Regulation Over The Years

ABP News  

New Delhi: India's online gaming industry has seen huge growth in the last few years. Going online is the most convenient way for people to gamble, so with India's growing online population, online gaming has also become more prominent. With the rise of online gaming in India comes risks and this is what some states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka …

India panel calls for regulatory body, new law for online gaming
2 years, 3 months ago

India panel calls for regulatory body, new law for online gaming

The Hindu  

India should create a regulatory body to classify online games as based on skill or chance, introduce rules to block prohibited formats and take a stricter stance on gambling websites, a Central Government panel said in a report seen by Reuters. In its confidential draft report dated August 31, the panel of government officials calls for creation of a new …

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