The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has notified the draft rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, signalling the government’s intent to regulate online gaming and boost e-sports while ensuring user safety.
The Draft Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2025, propose the creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India, a statutory body headquartered in the National Capital Region. The Authority will categorise games as e-sports, online social games, or online money games and maintain a National Online Social Games and E-sports Registry.
“The Central Government, through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, may issue codes of practice or guidelines in relation to the categorisation of online social games for recreational, educational, skill development, or such other purposes so as to ensure safe and age-appropriate social gaming content,” the draft notes.
The Authority will also register games, handle complaints, impose penalties, and coordinate with financial institutions and law enforcement for enforcement. Online gaming service providers must obtain certificates of registration valid for five years for e-sports and social games.
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To protect consumers, the draft rules mandate a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism, beginning with the service provider, followed by the Grievance Appellate Committee, and culminating with the Online Gaming Authority. The rules outline procedures for suspension or cancellation of registration in cases of non-compliance, false disclosures, or games involving money wagering.
“Where the online game service provider admits to such non-compliance, the Authority shall record the admission, direct her to remedy the non-compliance and may impose a penalty as she thinks fit in accordance with the provisions of the Act and rules made thereunder,” the draft states, leaving the quantum of penalties to the Authority’s discretion.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will oversee e-sports recognition and promotion, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will focus on online social games. MeitY will act as the nodal ministry for overall regulation.
The draft rules have been placed in the public domain to invite comments and suggestions before finalisation.
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