Time to level up: examining India’s draft online gaming rules

On 2 October 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) published a draft of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2025 (Draft Gaming Rules) for public consultation.

MeitY is accepting comments (to be sent to ogrules.consultation@meity.gov.in) until 31 October 2025.

Once finalised and notified, the Draft Gaming Rules will operationalise the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA).

PROGA, which was enacted in August and notably bans online money gaming, its facilitation and related financial enablement, is currently the subject of certain constitutional challenges before the Supreme Court of India. 

PROGA focused on banning and penalising online money games and related activities. The Draft Gaming Rules, on the other hand, expand on what PROGA left to prescription. They: (1) detail the nuts and bolts of the new online gaming authority; (2) enable voluntary registration of online social games and their administration; (3) explain how and when penalties may be imposed; (4) create a grievance redressal mechanism; and (5) outline appeal procedures.

We discuss these (and other) key aspects in our update.