NEW DELHI: India’s planned regulation of online gaming is all real money after the Prime Minister’s Office rejected a proposal to regulate only games of skill and leave out games of chance, according to an official document and three sources. Applicable to games.
A number of long-awaited regulations are seen shaping the future of India’s gaming sector, which research firm Redseer estimates will reach $7 billion by 2026, dominated by real-money games. Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital have backed popular Indian fantasy cricket startups Dream11 and Mobile Premier League in recent years.
In August, an Indian panel tasked with drafting the regulation proposed a new body to decide whether a game involves skill or chance, and then regulate games of skill under planned federal rules. Those seeking registration requirements, know-your-customer policies and complaints. Remedial Procedures
Games of chance — considered akin to gambling, which is largely banned across India — were slated to remain under the purview of individual state governments, which would be free to regulate them, JEE News previously reported. has given
But at an official meeting on October 26, an official in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office objected to such a distinction, and called for wider monitoring of all sports, according to confidential minutes of the meeting, which was reviewed by JEE News.
Due to the lack of legal clarity and conflicting judicial decisions it was not easy to distinguish games as a skill or an opportunity, the Minutes quoted the official as saying, “online gaming is treated as an activity/service without any distinction. can go.”
The definition of games in India has been controversial. India’s Supreme Court says the card game rummy and some fantasy games are skill-based and legal, for example, while different state courts have different views on games like poker.
Modi’s office and the IT ministry, which is drafting the rules, did not respond to requests for comment.
Three people directly involved in the rule-making process, including two government officials from New Delhi, told JEE News the rules would give the federal administration greater oversight over all forms of gaming while state governments would play gambling. have the power to impose a complete ban on Opportunity.
The draft of the new regulations comes amid growing concerns that the proliferation of such games, particularly among youth, has led to addiction and financial losses, with some cases of suicide reported.
One of the government sources said Modi’s administration is concerned about the potential addiction of such platforms.
A government panel’s August report recommended that the new rules should include so-called “addiction prevention measures” such as periodic warnings and advisories and fixing deposit and withdrawal limits.
