New norms for online games; Is it an end for gaming platform?

The Government of India has released a set of norms for the online gaming sector, wherein real money games involving wagering or betting have been prohibited. Online games involved in wagering or betting will fall foul of new online gaming rules, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar informed.

He said that the online games will be regulated by SROs which will include the industry, gamers and other stakeholders and not the government. The SROs as per the rules should also include an educationist, an expert in the field of psychology or mental health, an individual who is or has been a member or officer of an organisation dealing with the protection of child rights etc.

According to the rules, the online gaming self-regulatory body may declare an online real money game as a permissible online real money game.