The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has released the operational rules to implement the Online Gaming Development and Regulation law. The rules will come into force from May 1.
In a statement, IT Secretary S. Krishnan said the framework provides for setting up a dedicated Online Gaming Commission to monitor and regulate online games.
The government aims to keep compliance simple. Under the new approach, companies running online social games that do not involve money will not be required to register with the commission.
However, organisations conducting e-sports—competitive gaming using electronic devices—will have to register with the commission.
The statement noted that online games played for money are already prohibited under existing law, and said the new rules are intended to encourage social gaming and e-sports.
