Boundaries of gaming laws redrawn |
India’s new gaming laws are being framed as regulations. In reality, they redraw the boundaries of what kinds of gaming are allowed to exist. With the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) and its accompanying rules now in force, the government has drawn a clear line. Real-money gaming formats are out. E-sports and non-monetized social games are in. This is not a refinement of existing rules. It is a redefinition of the market itself. For years, India’s gaming debate centered on the distinction between games of skill and games of chance.
That debate is now largely beside the point. The focus is no longer on how a game works, but on whether money is involved at all. If it is, the game is effectively prohibited. The intention is to reduce financial drain, addiction risks, and predatory practices. The concerns are real. Real-money gaming platforms can create serious consumer protection issues, especially when business models are built around maximising user engagement and repeat spending. But the policy response marks a clear shift, from regulating risk to eliminating an entire category of activity. This approach may appear decisive. It is also blunt. Demand for real-money gaming does not disappear because it is banned. It moves. Users can shift to offshore platforms, unregulated apps, or informal networks that fall outside domestic........