(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Oct 4 (KNN) The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Thursday released the draft rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, inviting public feedback until October 31.

The Act, passed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament and notified on August 22, 2025, prohibits online real money games (RMG) in India while providing a framework for the promotion of legitimate e-sports and online social games.

The draft rules aim to clearly distinguish between permissible e-sports and social games and prohibited RMG platforms.

They establish a transparent regulatory structure for registration, categorisation, recognition, and grievance redressal, and propose the creation of a National Online Social Games and E-sports Registry.

Transitional provisions allow refunds of deposits collected before the Act's enforcement, with banks shielded from liability for up to 180 days.

The rules outline the formation of the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), headquartered in the National Capital Region.

Chaired by an additional secretary-level officer from MeitY, OGAI will include ex-officio members from the Ministries of Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs & Sports, and Financial Services, alongside two director-level members, one of whom will have legal expertise.

The authority will register and monitor online social games and e-sports, maintain the national registry, adjudicate complaints, impose penalties, and oversee appeals.

E-sports will be regulated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, while social games will fall under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Both categories will require registration and a certificate valid for up to five years.

Under the Act, penalties for offering online money gaming services include imprisonment of up to three years and fines of Rs 1 crore, while advertising such platforms can attract up to two years' imprisonment and fines of Rs 50 lakh.

The draft rules, organised into eight parts, also detail procedures for registration, monitoring compliance, and a three-tier grievance redressal system.

They provide for time-bound digital application processes, issuance of registration certificates, and annual reporting by OGAI to the Central Government.

While the rules do not specify an enforcement date, most RMG operators have already ceased operations in line with the law.

(KNN Bureau)

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