Legal protection has also been extended to officers undertaking searches and seizures under the Act. The absence of certificate will cease the game’s operation, representation or advertisement as a registered offering. “We changed our minds due to requests from stakeholders,” a ministry official said as reported by HT earlier.
Regulation Of Online Games Rules, 2023
The draft operationalises the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, passed by Parliament in August 2025, banning real-money games while recognising and promoting e-sports and online social games. Through these rules, the government is proposing a framework for the registration, classification and monitoring of such games. Any game involving wagering, stakes or winnings convertible into cash will be deemed an online money game and prohibited. The authority will also have the power to suspend or cancel registrations, impose penalties, and direct banks and service providers to block unlawful platforms.
online gaming authority
(iv) aperson who has served in the field of information technology for a period ofnot less than ten years. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has invited public feedback on the draft rules until October 31, 2025. The draft bill for Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2025 could grant sweeping powers to the proposed Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), which is set to become the central regulator for the industry.
(1) Theother terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson and Members of theGaming Authority (not provided for in these rules) shall be as are applicableto the State Government officers of corresponding status. Offering online money gaming services may attract up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to ₹1 crore. Advertising such platforms could lead to two years’ imprisonment and fines up to ₹50 lakh. To safeguard users, the rules mandate that platforms provide a grievance redressal system. Users dissatisfied with a platform’s response can appeal first to a grievance appellate committee and then escalate to the authority, which must resolve cases within 30 days. (1) TheChairperson of the Appellate Authority shall receive dearness allowance, citycompensatory allowance, leave, leave travel concession, medical treatment andhospital facility, telephone facility as are applicable to a Judge of the HighCourt.
Section 5 prohibits companies and individuals from offering, aiding, abetting, inducing or engaging in online money games. Section 7 restricts banks, financial institutions, or intermediaries from enabling related transactions. (2) EveryMember of the Appellate Authority shall receive dearness allowance, citycompensatory allowance, leave, leave travel concession, medical treatment andhospital facility, telephone facility as are applicable to All India ServiceOfficers drawing an equivalent pay. Both e-sports and social games will require compulsory registration with the authority. (2) Thesaid Local online games provider shall provide any service for the conduct ofonline games subject to the conditions provided under sub-section (5) ofsection 10 of the said Act. Every Member of the Gaming Authority shall receive dearness allowance, citycompensatory allowance, leave, leave travel concession, medical treatment,travelling allowance and telephone facility and other allowances at the rateadmissible to All India Service Officers drawing an equivalent pay.
(3) Theapplication as in Form-I, complete in all respects together with enclosuresmentioned therein, shall be sent to the Secretary, Tamil Nadu Online GamingAuthority, Chennai by registered post or online. (2) Wordsand expressions used in these rules and not defined but defined in theInformation Technology Act, 2000 (Central Act 21 of 2000) shall have the samemeaning assigned to them in that Act. Are you looking for a legal tech solutions like Legal Research, Case Management Tool, or a Legal Due Diligence Tool ?
- (3) ThisCertificate is valid for a period of three years from the date of issue.
- (2) Inthe case of a Member of the Gaming Authority, the Chairperson of the GamingAuthority shall be the leave sanctioning authority.
- If the authority determines that an online game constitutes an online money game, it will immediately direct the service provider to cease offering the game, prohibit all advertising, promotion, or facilitation of it, and initiate legal action as prescribed under the Act.
- The ministry of electronics and IT has invited comments and feedback from stakeholders until October 31.
Two ex officio members at the director level will also be appointed, with at least one possessing legal expertise. The draft specifies that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will administer the recognition and promotion of e-sports, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will oversee the promotion of online social games. The Tamil Nadu government has constituted the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority, four months after the Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022 was enacted. The gaming authority comprises five members, with retired IAS officer Md Nasimuddin as the chairperson. The Act came into force on April 21 this year, with Governor RN Ravi giving his assent to the legislation after it was tabled in the Assembly multiple times. The Governor’s meeting with representatives of the E-Gaming Federation (EGF) when the Bill was pending with him evoked criticism last teen patti year.
The OGAI will have the power to approve e-sports and online social games deemed legally permissible in the country. Conversely, it can cancel or suspend the registration of any online social game or e-sport found to be in violation of the Act. The authority will have quasi-judicial powers, including summoning individuals, examining evidence, and issuing binding orders. Non-official experts may be invited and will be paid allowances as per government norms. As per the draft, it will include three ex officio joint secretary members representing the I&B ministry, the youth affairs and sports ministry, and the financial services department.
