Government Sets Up Six-Member Online Gaming Authority in India

The Central Government has constituted the Online Gaming Authority of India, a six-member body aimed at regulating the rapidly growing online gaming sector in the country. According to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Authority will be chaired by the Additional Secretary of the ministry.

The five other members of the Authority will include Joint Secretaries 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 newly formed authority will be responsible for categorising and registering online games, determining whether a game qualifies as a money game, and addressing public grievances related to the sector. It will also issue guidelines, codes of practice, and directions to ensure regulatory compliance and responsible operations within the online gaming industry.

The move is seen as a significant step toward creating a structured regulatory framework for online gaming in India, while balancing innovation, consumer protection, and legal oversight.