Centre proposes self-regulatory mechanism, mandatory verification of players for online gaming companies

New Delhi: Centre has proposed a self-regulatory mechanism, mandatory verification of players and physical Indian address for online gaming companies. It has released the draft online gaming rules. The online gaming companies will be covered under the new IT rules  2021 for social media platforms. The online gaming platforms are expected to comply with the laws of the land, including any such law that relates to gambling. 

The draft rules envisage that an online gaming intermediary will observe the due diligence required under the rules. It includes reasonable efforts to cause its users not to host, display, upload, publish and share an online game not in conformity with Indian law.

Briefing reporters about the proposed draft, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar



said the government job is to prescribe rules for the safe and trusted functioning of the internet. He added that the intention is to ensure growth in the gaming sector. The Minister also said online gaming intermediaries will be permitted but if they tend to transgress into betting, they will not be permitted. 

Mr Chandrashekhar said, the draft has proposed a self-regulatory mechanism which, may also regulate the content of online gaming and ensure that the games do not have violent, addictive or sexual content.

Speaking on the safety concerns, the Minister said around 40 to 45 percent of the gamers in India are women, and therefore it was more important to keep the gaming ecosystem safe. He said the draft rules have strict provisions against betting.