Crucial Revisions to Online Gaming Regulations Introduced
Online gaming rules updated to enhance due diligence by intermediaries, establishing a multi-SRO framework
On Thursday, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) unveiled new regulations for online gaming, effectively banning games that involve betting and wagering. The updated rules establish a framework encompassing multiple self-regulatory organizations (SROs) to oversee online gaming activities.
Tackling Betting and Wagering in Online Gaming
Under the revised rules, games involving betting or wagering are deemed impermissible, explained Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for IT. The newly-introduced SRO framework will classify all online gaming as either permissible or otherwise. These changes aim to enforce stricter due diligence from online gaming and social media intermediaries, particularly in relation to online gaming activities and misinformation related to government business.
Promoting Innovation While Ensuring Regulation
Chandrasekhar highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to provide young Indians with ample opportunities to create startups and innovate globally. Online gaming is viewed as a significant opportunity for India, with the potential to transform the nation’s online gaming ecosystem into a multi-billion-dollar industry and contribute to the one trillion dollar digital economy goal by 2025-26, albeit with strict restrictions on online betting and wagering.
Understanding the Key Amendments
The amendments, developed after extensive consultations with various stakeholders, include the following:
- Intermediaries must make a reasonable effort to avoid hosting, publishing, or sharing online games that may harm users or haven’t been verified as permissible by an online gaming SRO designated by the central government.
- Online games or sites involving wagering will be entirely banned, including any advertisements or promotional presence.
- A central government-designated online gaming SRO will determine the permissibility of real-money games.
- Multiple SROs will participate, encompassing all stakeholders, including but not limited to industry representatives.
- Intermediaries must ensure that their platforms do not host advertisements or promotions for non-permissible online games.
- Permissibility will hinge on the involvement of wagering, with SROs having the authority to classify non-permissible games.
- SROs will establish a framework to protect users from potential harm related to online gaming activities.
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