Current Affairs
Government Notifies Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026
The government notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026 which will come into force from 1st May.
The Government of India has officially notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Rules, 2026, which will come into force on 1st May, 2026. The Rules, prepared by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), provide the operational architecture of the PROG Act, 2025, a landmark legislation enacted by Parliament in August 2025.
The framework aims to safeguard citizens from predatory online money games while creating an enabling environment for e-sports and online social games, in line with India’s ambition to become a global hub for gaming, innovation, and creativity.
Why Were the PROG Act and Rules Needed?
India’s online gaming sector has witnessed significant growth, but alongside it, concerns around addiction, fraud, financial exploitation, and regulatory fragmentation across states have intensified. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 address these challenges by clearly distinguishing between prohibited online money games and permissible social games and e-sports, while adopting a light-touch approach for non-monetary gaming platforms.
The rules aim to safeguard the financial system by preventing banks, payment systems, and financial institutions from facilitating transactions linked to prohibited online money games. They also enable coordinated enforcement between the regulatory authority, financial regulators, law enforcement agencies, and State Governments, while upholding user rights through a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism and a statutory right of appeal.
Key Highlights of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026
The Rules are organised into 6 Parts and 26 Rules, covering six pillars of the regulatory framework.
Online Gaming Authority of India
At the centre of the PROG Rules, 2026 is the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), constituted as a unified, digital-first regulator and an attached office of MeitY, headquartered in the NCT of Delhi. The Authority is a body of six members, chaired by the Additional Secretary, MeitY (ex officio).
The remaining five members are Joint Secretary-level representatives drawn from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Department of Financial Services, and Department of Legal Affairs.
The OGAI’s functions include maintaining and publishing the list of online money games, inquiring into complaints, issuing compliance orders and codes of practice, and coordinating with financial institutions and law enforcement agencies for enforcement. The Authority is designed to operate as a digital-first office, minimising physical processes for more efficient governance.
Determination of an Online Game
The Rules prescribe a determination test to classify whether a game constitutes an online money game (prohibited) or a permissible social game or e-sport. Determination can be triggered suo motu by the OGAI, upon application by a service provider seeking to offer a game as an e-sport, or through a notification by the Central Government for a specific category of social games.
Rule 9 lays down objective factors for this classification, including whether the game involves payment of fees or stakes, whether users have an expectation of monetary winnings, the structure of the revenue model, and how in-game rewards or assets are redeemed or monetised outside the game. To ensure regulatory certainty for the industry, determination must be completed within 90 days of a complete application or notice.
Registration of Online Games
Registration under the PROG Rules, 2026 is not universally required. It becomes mandatory only where the Central Government so notifies, based on risk to users (especially children), scale of participation, volume of financial transactions, and country of origin of the platform, and for every online game intended to be offered as an e-sport.
Upon successful determination and registration, the Authority issues a digital Certificate of Registration with a unique registration number, valid for up to 10 years. Online money games shall not be eligible for recognition or registration as an e-sport under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
User Safety Features
Protecting users, especially children, is a priority of the PROG Rules, 2026. Rule 2(1)(i) introduces the concept of user safety features: technical, procedural, operational, behavioural, or system-related safeguards calibrated to each game’s risk profile.
These encompass age verification and age-gating, time restrictions to limit excessive play, parental controls, user reporting tools, counselling support for addiction-related concerns, and fair-play and integrity monitoring. Service providers are required to disclose their user safety features and internal grievance mechanisms at the time of applying for determination or registration.
Two-Tier Grievance Redressal Mechanism
The rules establish a grievance redressal system to uphold user rights at multiple levels. At the first tier, every service provider must maintain a functional internal grievance redressal mechanism.
A user dissatisfied with the provider’s resolution, or facing non-redressal, may appeal to the OGAI within 30 days, with the Authority endeavouring to resolve the matter within a further 30 days. A second appeal lies before the Appellate Authority (Secretary, MeitY), who shall dispose of the matter within 30 days of receipt, ensuring accountability and fairness at every stage.
Penalties and Enforcement
The rules prescribe a proportionate enforcement framework. Proceedings are conducted in digital mode unless physical presence is deemed necessary, and must be concluded within 90 days of receipt of a complaint.
Penalties are calibrated to be proportionate, with the Authority required to consider factors such as the gain from non-compliance, loss caused to users, recurrence of violations, gravity of the offence, and mitigation efforts made by the entity.
About the PROG Act, 2025
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, enacted by Parliament in August 2025, lays the legal foundation on which the 2026 Rules operate. The Act establishes a legal framework to curb harmful online money gaming and protect users from the financial, psychological, and social distress caused by predatory gaming platforms.
It promotes a regulated ecosystem for e-sports and online social games, and aligns with India’s vision to become a global gaming and innovation hub while safeguarding society from financial and psychological risks.
Conclusion
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 mark a significant step in India’s digital governance journey. By clearly separating the permissible from the prohibited, establishing a unified regulator, prioritising user safety, and ensuring a fair appellate mechanism, the government has laid a foundation for India’s gaming ecosystem to grow responsibly.
With these Rules taking effect on 1st May, 2026, the online gaming industry and its millions of users stand at the threshold of a new era of governance.
Master Digital Age Governance & Technology Trends with VisionIAS Comprehensive Current Affairs →
PROG Rules 2026 FAQs
1. When do the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026 come into force?
Ans. 1st May, 2026.
2. Which ministry prepared the PROG Rules 2026?
Ans. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
3. What is the name of the regulator established under the PROG Rules 2026?
Ans. Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI).
4. Can online money games be registered as e-sports under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025?
Ans. No, online money games are not eligible for recognition or registration as an e-sport.
5. On which Act are the PROG Rules 2026 based?
Ans. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, enacted by Parliament in August 2025.
