India Establishes Online Gaming Authority to Ban Money Games

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules on April 22, 2026, to operationalize the 2025 Act. Effective May 1, 2026, these rules establish the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), a statutory body chaired by MeitY's additional secretary.

The framework prohibits online money games, which are defined as games involving wagering or staking. In contrast, the government seeks to promote e-sports and online social games. While e-sports require mandatory registration, social games generally do not unless they meet specific risk-based criteria. Violators of these rules face penalties including fines up to Rs 1 crore or imprisonment for up to three years.

The OGAI is empowered to maintain a registry of games and coordinate with financial institutions to block transactions linked to prohibited gaming activities. The authority will also oversee a tiered grievance redressal mechanism. MeitY officials indicated that prediction apps such as Kalshi and Polymarket, as well as quick commerce platforms utilizing gamified experiences, may face scrutiny under the new regulations.