The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) published the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2025 for consultation on the evening of October 2, 20251. The rules were made under section 19 of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (32 of 2025)2. The Act received the President's assent and was notified in the Gazette of India on 22nd August, 2025, and prohibits online real money games entirely in India, covering games such as poker, rummy and fantasy sports1.
The rules do not name an enforcement date. They "shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint"2. The Hindu reported that this technically pushes the ban on real money games to a subsequent notification, though all registered real money gaming operators in the country have already wound up their operations1. The draft rules are open for comment until the end of October, and MeitY said it would not publish the inputs it receives1.
The rules establish the Online Gaming Authority of India, with its head office in the National Capital Region2. It is chaired ex officio by an officer in the rank of Additional Secretary at MeitY, with three Joint Secretary rank members representing information and broadcasting, youth affairs and sports, and financial services, and two further members at Director rank or above, at least one with special knowledge of law2. One-third of the functional strength is the quorum for meetings2. The Authority may function as a digital office and holds the same powers as a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 19082. It determines whether a game is an online money game, maintains a National Online Social Games and E-sports Registry, hears complaints and imposes penalties2.
Esports are administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and registration of an e-sport requires proof of recognition under the National Sports Governance Act, 20252. Online social games, defined as games that do not promise users a monetary reward for paying money, may be offered without registration, though a registration facility exists2. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may issue codes of practice for classifying games as recreational, educational or skill development content2.
Appeals against Authority decisions go to the Appellate Authority, the Secretary to the Government of India at MeitY, within thirty days of a written decision, with an endeavor to dispose of the appeal within thirty days2. The rules set timelines for other steps:
| Step | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Registration of an online social game | Not exceeding ninety days from application2 |
| Inquiry into a complaint | Begins within fifteen days, concluded within ninety days2 |
| Authority decision on each complaint | Within ninety days2 |
| Representation after suspension notice | Within fifteen days of receipt2 |
| Periodic review of a suspension order | Every thirty days2 |
Penalties not paid may be recovered as if they were an arrear of land revenue, and penalties collected are credited to the Consolidated Fund of India2. The draft includes a rule sparing banks from liability when facilitating refunds of deposits made before the Act came into force1.
What it means for players
The Act bans online real money games in India, and the rules published on October 2, 2025 do not yet bring that ban into force, because no commencement date has been appointed2. Until a notification sets that date, the practical position for players is unchanged from the Act's passage. The rules create the machinery that will decide which games count as online money games: the Authority can act on its own motion or on an application from a game provider, and its determination turns on whether money or stakes change hands at any point, whether players expect monetary enrichment, the revenue model, and how rewards or in-game assets can be transferred or cashed out2. Games determined to be online money games can be ordered to cease immediately2. Social games that promise no monetary reward for paying money can be offered without registration2. Esports registration is handled separately and requires recognition under the National Sports Governance Act, 20252.
What happens next
The draft rules are open for comment until the end of October 20251. The rules take effect on a date to be appointed by notification in the Official Gazette, and no such date appears in the published text2. The Authority is to be established with effect from a date appointed the same way2.
