Legislation passed in August 2025 and recent rules prepared to provide operational procedures finally took effect in May 2026, which aim to protect citizens in India from financial, psychological and social distress caused by predatory online money gaming platforms.
The (the act) passed in August, 2025 and the recently prepared (the rules) on
The rules provide operational procedures for the act, covering topics such as making the distinction between prohibited online money gaming and permissible online social games/e-sports; of the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI); setting up a statutory registration regime; prescribing mandatory features, inquiry procedures and imposition of civil penalties; and an appellate mechanism.
The OGAI will be a digital office as far as practicable and will be chaired by the additional secretary of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Its functions include maintaining and publishing the list of online money games; inquiring into complaints; issuing directions, orders and codes of practice; considering appeals; and co-ordinating with financial institutions and law-enforcement agencies.
With the enforcement of the new law in 2026, the regulatory framework brings into operation online gaming laws that were a major point of discussion in 2025 after the law was passed.
