Online gaming guidelines quickly, Centre softens draft for {industry}| India Information

A major change from the October draft is that registration for on-line social video games might be fully voluntary. The {industry} had flagged ambiguity within the draft guidelines, with rule 4(2) suggesting that such video games would wish to register with the Online Gaming Authority of India to function legally, whereas rule 4(3) said that on-line social video games could also be provided with out registration.

“Registration has now been made fully voluntary for online social games,” one of many officers mentioned. The transfer follows consultations with {industry} stakeholders, who had sought an easier and fewer burdensome registration course of. “Industry feedback was clear that the registration process needed to be eased, and that has been addressed in the final rules,” the official added.

Explaining the rationale, the official mentioned the federal government doesn’t wish to discourage non-monetised gaming exercise. “Our approach earlier was to encourage companies to register, but the larger goal is to make India a gaming hub. If companies are offering social games, we don’t want to create friction, as long as they are not operating money gaming platforms,” the official mentioned, calling it a serious leisure.

Registration of e-sport video games will, nevertheless, stay obligatory, as within the draft guidelines. One official added that even e-sport video games may fall into the cash gaming class relying on how they’re structured, with the authority tasked with making that willpower and taking motion the place required.

Officials mentioned the framework continues to categorise video games into three classes — on-line social video games, e-sports, and on-line cash video games. “In social games, revenue can come in through subscriptions or similar models, but there can be no payouts to users. In e-sports, there can be inflows and outflows in the form of pre-declared prizes, but these must first be recognised as sporting events. The third category is money gaming, where users stake money and winnings are involved. This is banned,” the official defined.

The broader regulatory structure stays largely unchanged. The guidelines will present for the creation of an Online Gaming Authority of India, with powers akin to a civil courtroom to conduct inquiries and summon people.

“There are no major changes to the authority’s powers. It will continue to have quasi-judicial functions,” one other official mentioned. The authority will play a central function in figuring out the character of video games and implementing the regulation. “If a platform wants clarity on whether a game qualifies as an online money game, the authority will make that determination. It will also act on complaints from users and step in where violations are found,” the official mentioned.

The whole regulatory course of is anticipated to be digital, and the portal for it’s nearly prepared, one of many officers mentioned.

The PROG Act, geared toward banning pay-to-play fashions, was handed in Parliament on August 21, 2025, and acquired Presidential assent on August 22. The regulation prohibits all on-line cash gaming companies, imposing penalties of as much as three years’ imprisonment and fines of as much as ₹1 crore for facilitators. Advertising such platforms carries penalties of as much as two years’ imprisonment and fines of as much as ₹50 lakh.

The IT ministry printed the draft guidelines on October 2, 2025, inviting suggestions from the general public and stakeholders till October 31, 2025.