The Indian government has notified rules to regulate the digital gaming space under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025. The new norms will come into effect from May 1.
The rules enable the formation of a digital gaming authority and do not require mandatory registration of online games that do not involve real money.
The authority will be headed by the MEITY Additional Secretary and will have powers akin to a civil court to conduct inquiries and summon individuals.
The PROG Act, 2025, prohibits all online money gaming services and imposes penalties of up to 3 years' imprisonment and fines of up to ₹1 crore on facilitators.
The rules classify games into three categories: online social games, e-sports, and online money games. The authority will determine the nature of games and enforce the law.
