New regulator, age verification in gaming rules

NEW DELHI: India’s new online gaming framework has tightened oversight of real-money gaming, placing banks at the centre of enforcement. User protection provisions, including “age verification or age-restriction mechanisms”, form a core part of the rules.

The Online Gaming Authority of India will act as the central regulator.

Under the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Rules, 2026, notified on Wednesday, regulatory determination of an online game is not required unless triggered by conditions such as voluntary registration, classification as esports, or govt notification.

They will come into force from May 1, marking a shift towards a more structured regulatory regime.

Social, casual gaming exempt from prior nod under new rules
This effectively exempts a large segment of social and casual gaming from prior approval requirements.

However, games involving financial stakes face closer scrutiny. The rules require the authority to assess whether “payment of any fee, deposit of money or other stake is involved” and whether users participate “in expectation of winning any money or other gain”, bringing such formats under tighter oversight. The authority is empowered to impose restrictions under the act.

The framework also lays out how such assessments will be conducted, including examining “the structure and operation of the revenue model” and how in-game rewards or assets are transferred, redeemed or monetised outside the game environment — extending scrutiny beyond gameplay to monetisation pathways.

The industry has broadly welcomed the clarity. Nitish Mittersain, CEO, Nazara Technologies, said that the move “to bring clarity and structure... is a very welcome step”, adding that with the right framework, India can accelerate “high-quality content” creation and build globally scalable gaming IP.

Manish Agarwal, board member, Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), noted, "The Rules represent a meaningful improvement, and the Ministry deserves credit for moving to an exception-based framework that recognises that most online games do not require active regulatory determination."

User protection measures include “age verification or age-restriction mechanisms, time limits, parental controls, user reporting and grievance redressal mechanisms” aimed at mitigating financial, psychological, and social risks. Platforms are expected to ensure transparency and enable informed decision-making.

The Online Gaming Authority of India will have a multi-ministry composition, chaired by an additional secretary in MeitY. It will maintain a registry of approved games, examine complaints, issue directions on financial transactions and advertisements, and coordinate with law enforcement and financial institutions. It can also issue directions on “financial transactions or funds”.

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