MeitY’s Draft Online Gaming Rules: Key Highlights

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released draft rules outlining the procedural framework for implementing the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. Stakeholder feedback on the draft rules is invited until October 31, 2025.

Enacted in August this year, the Act establishes a uniform national framework to support the growth of the online gaming sector, promote e-sports and online social games, and prohibit online money games. See our blog post for more details on the Act.

Key provisions of the draft rules include:

• Role of Central Ministries in Promoting E-sports or Online Social Gaming:

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) is responsible for e-sports, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is responsible for promoting online social games, as per Rules 3(1) and 4(1). Further, Rule 4(4) empowers the MIB to issue codes of practice or guidelines in relation to the categorisation of online social games for recreational, educational, skill development, or such other purposes to ensure safe and age-appropriate social gaming content.

• Online Gaming Authority of India:

The Authority’s powers and functions under Rule 10 include determining whether a game is an online money game, registering online games, and maintaining a national registry of all registered online social games and e-sports, as well as a list of prohibited money games. It may also issue directions, impose penalties, and suspend or cancel registrations. Appeals from its decisions will lie with the Appellate Authority.

• Registration:

Registration of online social games and e-sports will be done by the Authority under Rules 14 and 15. Notably, Rule 4(3) makes registration of online social games voluntary. Applications under Rule 12 must be submitted in digital form along with supporting details.  The details sought by the Authority may include the game’s description, target age group, and revenue model.

Based on such an application or suo moto, the Authority may determine whether an online game is an online money game by applying the parameters under Rule 13(1). If it is deemed an online money game, it will order the game to cease operations, prohibit its advertising, initiate further action, and publish a list of online money games on its website.

Once an online game is registered as an online social game or an e-sport, the Authority will issue a certificate of registration valid for up to five years, unless suspended or cancelled earlier. Any material change in the game’s nature must be communicated to the Authority.

• Three-tiered Grievance Redressal Mechanism:

Rule 23 envisages a three-tier grievance redressal framework. Online game service providers offering registered online social games or e-sports must maintain internal grievance redressal mechanisms. Users dissatisfied with the resolution can appeal first to the Grievance Appellate Committee established under Rule 3A of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and subsequently to the Authority.

• Transitional Provision:

Rule 24 provides for a 180-day window for returning user funds collected prior to the commencement of the Act.