A new regulator has been set up in India to oversee the implementation of the recent real-money games ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Online Gaming Authority of India<\/strong> will be based in Delhi and will operate under India\u2019s Electronics and IT Ministry (MeitY).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The creation of a new regulatory body was first alluded to back in August when the \u201cPromotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025\u201d was tabled in the Indian Parliament with the goal to \u201cregulate, promote, and develop India\u2019s online gaming sector, including e-sports, educational, and social games\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In that regard, the regulator will have the power to issue five-year licence certificates for approved games, reject applications it deems invalid, impose penalties for regulatory breaches, as well as to manage a \u2018National Registry of Online Social Games and E-sports\u2019 that will list all banned real-money games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other responsibilities are currently being drafted, with MeitY in the process of consulting the public on the draft rules, as well as the proposed definition of money games, until 31 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the draft framework, online money games are digital products that involve any types of wagers, stakes, or cash prizes, and are strictly prohibited \u2013 with those found to supply such offers liable to legal sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The real-money games vs games of chance debate has been at the forefront of discussions around gambling in India for quite some time now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Primarily driven by concerns about increasing rates of problem gambling and prominence of gambling ads among the youth, the final decision to officially segregate one from the other has had wide-reaching consequences not only for companies operating in India, but also for global conglomerates as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n