India Sets New Rules for Online Gaming
New framework gives social games lighter treatment, backs e-sports registration, and keeps tighter oversight on prohibited money gaming.
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The Indian government has notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, which will come into force on 1 May, under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
The rules lay down the operational framework for India’s online gaming sector, with the stated aim of supporting legitimate e-sports and social games while maintaining a tighter regime for online money games.
Under the new framework, online social games that do not involve real money are not automatically subject to a blanket mandatory registration requirement.
The explanatory note issued by MeitY says registration for online social games is voluntary under Part IV, while e-sports are to be recognized and registered under the new system.
The framework is therefore lighter for non-money formats, though some oversight remains.
The rules provide for the creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India, which will function as the central regulatory body for the sector.
According to MeitY’s explanatory note, the authority will operate as a digital office, determine whether a game falls into the prohibited online money game category, handle registration processes, issue directions, and oversee compliance and enforcement.
The same note says the authority will consist of a chairperson and five other ex officio members, giving it a six-member structure.
The broader architecture is designed to distinguish between legitimate online gaming formats and prohibited money-gaming activity.
The 2025 Act explicitly promotes e-sports, educational games and social gaming, while prohibiting online money games and related advertising and fund transfers.
For games seeking registration, the process is meant to be time-bound. MeitY’s explanatory note says the authority will generally take up to 90 days to decide registration applications for online games.
The rules also give the government room to impose closer scrutiny where risks are judged to be higher. For online games other than real-money games, the updated IT Rules provide that the Central Government may notify additional obligations if it considers them necessary in the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, public order, decency, morality, or for preventing harm to users.
