Government Unveils Key Amendments To Online Gaming Rules: Here Are The Changes

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) on Thursday released new rules for online gaming that prohibit any game that involves betting and wagering, and entail a framework of multiple self-regulatory organisations (SROs).

“The moment online gaming trespasses into involving betting and wagering regardless of the core content of the game, then it comes into conflict with these new rules,” Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters.

“We are dealing with a framework that allows for all online gaming to be determined as permissible or not by an SRO, and there will be multiple SROs,” Mr Chandrasekhar said.

According to a news release, the aim of these amendments is to enforce greater due diligence by online gaming and social media intermediaries with respect to online games and fake or falsely misleading information related to government business.

Elaborating on the new rules at a press conference, the Union Minister said, “It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and goal that young Indians get every opportunity possible to create startups and innovate for the world. Online gaming is certainly a huge opportunity for India and young Indians. We see the Indian online gaming ecosystem expanding and growing into a multi-billion dollar industry and being an important catalyst for India’s one trillion dollar digital economy goal by 2025-26, with very clear restrictions on online wagering and betting.”