- Download the Online Gaming Rules gazette notification here.
- Access the draft rules here.
- Access the Online Gaming Act, 2025 here.
The Centre has notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, in the Gazette of India, formally operationalising the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. The rules were notified on April 22, 2026, and will come into force from May 1, 2026.
Composition of the Online Gaming Authority: The final rules replace the draft’s earlier structure with a fully interministerial body:
- Chairperson: Additional Secretary, MeitY, or an officer not below the Joint Secretary nominated by the MeitY Secretary.
- Members: Joint Secretaries from:
- Ministry of Home Affairs
- Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice
- The Centre may appoint a Director-level or above officer with IT experience as Secretary to the Authority.
- The Chairperson may invite experts on an ad hoc basis to assist the Authority.
Quorum raised: The quorum for meetings has been increased from one-third of functional strength in the draft to half of the functional strength, whether members attend physically or digitally.
Faster emergency action: the Chairperson can still take urgent action in emergencies when convening a meeting is impractical. However, the final rules require the Chairperson to inform all members within three days, down from seven days in the draft.
Determination framework overhauled: The final rules expand and structure the framework for determining whether an online game qualifies as an “online money game”.
Under Rule 8, providers do not need to seek a determination unless:
- The Authority directs them to do so suo motu;
- they intend to offer the game as an e-sport; or
- The Central Government notifies a category of online social games for determination.
Rule 9 introduces factors the Online Gaming Authority must consider, including:
- whether users pay any fee, deposit money, or place stakes at any stage;
- whether users expect to win money or other gains;
- how the payment is structured. The rules distinguish between:
- competitive event fees, such as tournament entry or participation fees and administrative costs;
- subscription or one-time access fees to access a game
- bets, wagers, or other stakes placed in expectation of winnings
- the game’s revenue model and operations
- whether rewards, benefits, or in-game assets can be transferred, redeemed, monetised, or used outside the game environment.
The rules also clarify that any determination is specific to both the game and the provider. A determination order for one provider’s game will not automatically apply to a similar or identical game offered by another provider.
When registration becomes mandatory: The rules shift away from the draft’s blanket exemption for online social games. Instead, under Rule 12, the Central Government can require registration of an online game or category of games through a notification after considering factors such as risk of harm to users, including children; the nature and severity of possible harm; the scale of user participation; the nature, volume, or value of financial transactions; and the provider’s country of origin or principal office. Registration remains mandatory for games offered as esports.
Certificate validity extended: Registration certificates will now remain valid for up to 10 years, at the provider’s option, at the time of application. The draft had capped the validity at five years.
Grievance redressal simplified: The final rules remove the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) under the IT Rules, 2021, from the process. Users must first approach the provider, then the Authority, and can appeal further to the Appellate Authority, defined as the MeitY secretary.
Also read
- Online Gaming Authority of India website live, appears to be under construction, as rules still not notified
- RTI: MeitY Has No Information on Stakeholder Consultations on Online Gaming Authority
- Explained: Powers of the Online Gaming Authority, Now Granted Civil Court Status Under Draft Rules
The post Online Gaming Rules notified, to be in effect from May 1, what are the major changes? appeared first on MEDIANAMA.
