New Delhi, Apr 23: The government has notified rules to operationalize the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, establishing a digital-first Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) under MeitY. Effective May 1, 2026, the framework keeps most social games free from mandatory registration or prior classification.
The rules introduce “user safety features” tailored to game risks, including age verification, time limits, parental controls, reporting tools, counseling, and fair-play monitoring. Providers must disclose these and grievance mechanisms during applications.
A “determination” process classifies games as banned “online money games” in three cases: OGAI’s suo motu review, e-sports offerings, or government-specified categories based on financial transaction nature, volume, or value. Factors include entry fees, winnings expectations, revenue models, and reward monetization. Decisions come within 90 days.
IT Secretary S Krishnan emphasized: “We kept it regulation-light. Most non-money games operate without determination or registration—it’s optional.”
Registration is mandatory for e-sports and notified high-risk social games, based on user risks (especially children), scale, transactions, provider origin, and public interest. Successful applicants get a 10-year digital certificate with a unique ID.
Registered providers must display details prominently, appoint contacts, retain data, and follow payment rules. All social game and e-sports providers need grievance mechanisms; unsatisfied users appeal to OGAI (30 days), then MeitY Secretary (30 days).
Real money games remain banned.
OGAI, chaired by MeitY Additional Secretary with reps from Home, Finance, I&B, Sports, and Law ministries, operates digitally. It lists money games, handles complaints, issues codes, coordinates with banks/law enforcement, and enforces via transaction blocks.
Banks must verify registrations for suspicious flows and halt dealings with identified money games on OGAI orders.
The rules ensure transparent classification and registration for permissible games while banning stakes-based ones.
