Code of Ethics for Gaming Industry
Multiple gaming bodies, including the All India Gaming Federation, the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, and the E-Gaming Federation, have signed a Code of Ethics (CoE) aimed at enforcing consistent standards of user safety and industry practices.
Key Principles of the Code
- Responsible Gaming Practices
- Age gating
- Non-operation in restricted states
- Robust user verification mechanisms
- Player Protection
- Data safeguarding
- Proper management of player funds
- Fair Practices and Transparency
- Informed decision-making (e.g., self-exclusion, setting limits)
- Support for vulnerable players through tools and resources
- Ethical and responsible advertising
Implementation and Compliance
- Gaming operators with annual revenue of Rs 100 crore or more must implement the code within six months.
- Smaller players have nine months to comply.
- Upon successful adoption, federations will issue a certification valid for one year, renewable annually after a third-party independent audit.
Annual Review
The CoE will be reviewed annually to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Impact and Industry Commitment
According to Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports director-general Neil Castelino, the CoE sets a unified standard prioritizing player well-being, integrity, and accountability across the industry, aiming to create a safe environment for India's 24 crore fantasy sports users.
The CoE applies to all online gaming operators who are members of the federations and offer skill-based real-money gaming services in India.
