New Delhi: Rules and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the Online Gaming Act will be issued in the next three to four weeks, industry representatives were told during the first consultation on the law with information technology (IT) minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
A second round of discussions is expected soon, focusing on more detailed inputs from stakeholders.
Vaishnaw at the meeting on Monday assured stakeholders that the government would give companies adequate transition time and that no coercive action would be taken during this period. “He encouraged firms to report any instances of harassment by local authorities directly to the ministry for intervention,” people aware of the development said.
Vaishnaw reiterated that the Act is aimed at protecting users and curbing offshore operators while helping the domestic real-money gaming (RMG) industry adjust. He said the government would “patiently handhold” the RMG sector to pivot and also left the door open for possible amendments to the law.
Also Read: Courts can’t stand in way of new Online Gaming Act: Centre tells Karnataka HC
Four nodal ministries — electronics & IT, information and broadcasting (I&B), sports, and telecom — will oversee implementation, with joint secretaries Ajit Kumar (IT) and Senthil Rajan (I&B) named as nodal officers.
{{/usCountry}}Four nodal ministries — electronics & IT, information and broadcasting (I&B), sports, and telecom — will oversee implementation, with joint secretaries Ajit Kumar (IT) and Senthil Rajan (I&B) named as nodal officers.
{{/usCountry}}HT reached out to officials at the IT and I&B ministries but did not receive an immediate response.
The engagement comes less than two weeks after Parliament cleared the legislation, which prohibits all forms of online money games including those offering cash rewards or virtual currencies convertible into money. Under the Act, providing online money gaming services carries penalties of up to three years imprisonment and fines reaching ₹1 crore. Advertising such platforms could result in two-year jail terms and fines up to ₹50 lakh.
Also Read: New online gambling Act breaches federal boundaries
The minister said measures including reinforced blocking and advertising restrictions would target offshore operators, with a separate carve-out for video games potentially under consideration to exclude regular video games from RMG to avoid overreach.
Stakeholders were told that while advertisements could be banned outright once rules are notified, restrictions on financial transactions could be given a longer transition period so that banks, payment gateways and gaming companies have time to adjust.
On banking and payments, officials at the consultation said an advisory from the department of financial services and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may soon clarify that banks and payment gateways can continue to support operators, including online digital intermediaries, as per people aware of the matter.
Also Read: First legal challenge to new online gaming law
The consultation was attended by senior officials from IT and MIB ministries, including I&B secretary Sanjay Jaju, IT joint secretary Ajit Kumar, and I&B joint secretary Senthil Rajan. Industry bodies such as All India Gaming Federation-All India Game Developers Forum (AIGF-AIGDF), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), India Export Import Chamber (IEIC), Skills Online Gaming Institute (SOGI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Gaming Developers Association of India (GDAI), Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), and Electronic Sports Federation of India (ESFI) participated.
Stakeholders have been invited to submit their suggestions on the draft rules and FAQs to the IT ministry before the next consultation.