The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the draft Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules on October 2, 2025.
These rules operationalise provisions of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, and set out mechanisms for regulating e-sports and online social games. They also establish procedures for recognition, categorisation, and registration of games, while also defining the role of online gaming service providers.
Furthermore, the rules empower a newly created Online Gaming Authority of India to determine whether a game qualifies as an online money game, oversee compliance, maintain a National Registry of recognised titles, and issue directions or penalties in case of violations.
Elsewhere, the framework provides for grievance redressal, requiring online gaming service providers to maintain mechanisms for addressing user complaints, with appeals available before the Grievance Appellate Committee and the Authority itself.
Furthermore, the rules also clarify that any game involving stakes or winnings in monetary form will be classified as a prohibited online money game. Meanwhile, registered e-sports and social games will receive certificates valid for up to five years, subject to cancellation or suspension if violations occur.
For context, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, enacted in August 2025, laid the legislative foundation for this framework. It formally banned real-money games, defined categories of permissible online gaming, and empowered the Central Government to regulate the sector.
Under the draft rules, the application process for registering online games has been laid out in Part IV, Rule 12. The rules make it voluntary for service providers to seek recognition and registration of online social games, while registration remains mandatory for e-sports. Consequently, any provider intending to register must apply to the Online Gaming Authority in the prescribed digital form.
The application requires providers to furnish extensive details, which include the name and statutory registrations of the applicant, a description of the game, its proposed category (such as recreational or educational), and the target age group.
In addition, providers must disclose their revenue model (which cannot involve wagers or stakes), and outline user safety features alongside internal grievance redressal mechanisms. They must also submit an undertaking confirming that they will not engage in prohibited activities under existing law.
Moreover, the Authority may request further information during the application process. Once satisfied, it must process the application within 90 days for either recognition of a social game or registration of an e-sport.
Notably, if applications are incomplete or improperly submitted, the Authority can return them with reasons, requiring fresh submissions within a specified timeline.
The rules empower the Authority to determine whether a game should be classified as an online money game, online social game, or an e-sport. This determination may be triggered either by an application from a service provider or by the Authority on its own initiative.
A game will be categorised as an online money game if it meets one or more of the following conditions:
If the Authority determines a game is an online money game, it must direct the provider to stop offering it, ban any promotion or advertising, and publish its details on a public list.
For online social games, service providers may apply voluntarily for registration once the Authority has confirmed their status.
In contrast, e-sports providers must apply for registration after first obtaining recognition under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. Only after such recognition can an e-sport be registered with the Online Gaming Authority.
Once the Online Gaming Authority registers an online social game or an e-sport, it issues a Certificate of Registration with a unique registration number. The certificate remains valid for up to five years, depending on the period chosen by the service provider at the time of application.
However, the Authority can also suspend or cancel it earlier in case of violations. Furthermore, providers may voluntarily surrender the certificate before its expiry, though this does not absolve them of liabilities accrued under the Act.
The rules also require providers to keep the Authority informed of any “material change” in the nature of the registered game. For instance, if a modification alters the game in a way that turns it into an online money game, the Authority can cancel the registration. In addition, providers must apply afresh for renewal upon the expiry of their certificate.
The rules have set out clear provisions as to when the Online Gaming Authority of India can cancel or suspend a Certificate of Registration granted to an online social game or e-sport. Cancellation and suspension operate differently, but both serve as enforcement tools against non-compliance.
Cancellation occurs when more serious violations arise. The Authority can cancel a certificate if a registered game undergoes a “material change” that effectively makes it an online money game.
Furthermore, it can also act if there are repeated breaches of directions issued under the law, such as if an e-sport provider fails to prove continued recognition under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, or if there is a violation of any law governing online gaming. Once cancelled, the provider loses eligibility for government support or incentives, and may face further legal action.
In contrast, suspension usually lasts temporarily and occurs while the Authority conducts an inquiry. The Authority can suspend a registration if it finds prima facie evidence of non-compliance, detects false information submitted during registration, or identifies unpaid penalties.
Additionally, suspension may also apply where providers fail to comply with directions, do not confirm recognition for an e-sport, or commit any other legal violation. Unlike cancellation, the Authority can lift a suspension once the provider remedies the non-compliance to its satisfaction.
The rules establish an inquiry and appeal mechanism for online gaming service providers affected by registration or classification decisions.
When the Online Gaming Authority identifies potential non-compliance, it begins by issuing a formal notice to the provider. This notice sets out the grounds for action and, in the case of a complaint, includes a copy for reference.
Providers then have 15 days to make a representation and submit supporting details. If the Authority remains prima facie satisfied about a legitimate case, it must launch an inquiry within 15 days.Importantly, this inquiry must conclude within 90 days.
During the process, providers can present evidence, respond to allegations, and demonstrate compliance. The Authority may require additional information not only from providers but also from complainants or associated service partners.
If, after the inquiry, the Authority finds grounds for cancellation, it can revoke the Certificate of Registration. In contrast, if issues appear correctable, it can direct the provider to remedy them or, in the case of uncertainty, suspend the registration until compliance is demonstrated.
Furthermore, the rules grant online gaming service providers the right to appeal. Providers can challenge any decision by the Authority – whether it classifies a game as an online money game, cancels or suspends a registration, or imposes a penalty – before the Appellate Authority, which is actually the MeitY Secretary to the Government of India.
Online gaming providers must file appeals within 30 days of receiving the decision. The Appellate Authority, while not bound by the Civil Procedure Code, follows principles of natural justice and can confirm, modify, or overturn the decision. Notably, it also aims to resolve appeals within 30 days.
The release of the Draft Online Gaming Rules is significant because it introduces the country’s first detailed regulatory framework for its fast-growing gaming sector.
By setting out procedures for categorising games, the rules establish a formal process to distinguish between permissible online social games and e-sports on the one hand, and prohibited online money games on the other. This legal framework affects not only providers but also users, who will now see stricter boundaries on what is legally permissible.
Furthermore, the establishment of the Online Gaming Authority marks a significant administrative step. The body has the power to register games, maintain a national registry, and enforce compliance through penalties, suspension, or cancellation. Importantly, the draft rules require providers to disclose their revenue models and maintain grievance redressal mechanisms: potentially changing how they design and offer games.
Elsewhere, the rules create structured checks and balances. Service providers can challenge decisions through inquiries and appeals, with timelines that emphasise due process and accountability. Moreover, the recognition of e-sports under the National Sports Governance Act has connected this sector with the broader sports governance law.
Overall, the Draft Online Gaming Rules matter because they signal an apparent shift from merely broad legislative bans on online money games, to a detailed regulatory regime that defines, monitors, and enforces standards for online social games and e-sports.
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