- The government notified rules under the Online Gaming Act, 2025, effective May 1
- Registration for online social games is voluntary, with OGAI having review powers
- OGAI will have six members, including Ministry of Home Affairs, operational from May 1
The government has notified rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, with implementation set to begin from May 1, marking the operational rollout of a formal regulatory framework for the sector.
A key feature of the rules is that registration for online social games has been made voluntary. Such games can operate without prior determination or registration with the proposed regulator, the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI). However, the authority will have powers to step in and review any game on its own.
OGAI, which will become functional from May 1, will now have six members, with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) included as a full-time member. The validity of certificates issued to games has also been extended from five to ten years, reducing compliance frequency for operators.
The authority will be chaired by additional secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and its members will include the joint secretaries of MHA, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Department of Legal Affairs.
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The rules allow the government to mandate registration for specific categories of social games based on factors such as addiction risk, scale of participation, financial implications and country of origin. Parameters such as the distinction between registration fees, prizes and wagers will also be used to determine the nature of games.
The framework has been refined after receiving over 2,500 stakeholder submissions. It introduces greater clarity on data retention norms, fair play requirements, cybersecurity standards, and the grounds for suspension or cancellation of registrations.
Officials said the rules aim to strike a balance between ease of doing business and user protection, while retaining regulatory oversight for high-risk segments of the online gaming ecosystem.
Notably, the key changes in the rules include removal of complex elements around the promotion on e-sports. The I&B Ministry and Sports Ministry are free to develop separate policies related to it.
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According to industry stakeholders, the online gaming rules will play a key role in supporting India's video gaming industry. "Treating casual gaming as entertainment not only unlocks wider audience participation but also accelerates the formal recognition of video gaming as a mainstream storytelling, cultural platform. We believe this will drive long-term investment, innovation, and global competitiveness for Indian video gaming companies," said Rajan Navani, Chairman, president of Indian Digital Gaming Society.
"It is important for all stakeholders to ensure that the framework for esports remains enabling so that the ecosystem—from grassroots players to professional leagues—can scale efficiently. Overall, this is a progressive step toward positioning India as a global hub for interactive entertainment and competitive video gaming," he added.
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