New Delhi: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has notified regulations regarding online gaming under the Information Technology Act, 2000, with an aim to keep a tab on the emerging gaming industry and curb apps and platforms for online gaming. These rules on online gaming (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Ethics Rules, 2021) have been amended in the IT Act, 2000. a computer resource or a user through an intermediary”.
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Let us try to understand the new rules of online gaming in simple terms:
Creation of Self-Regulatory Bodies (SROs) for Online Gaming
The ministry has notified to form an ‘online gaming self-regulatory body’, which means an entity designated to conduct checks on online gaming platforms. Initially, three self-regulatory organizations are being notified by the government.
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What will they do?
They have the responsibility to decide whether the particular online gaming platform is being allowed to operate or not depending on real money. Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “Permissible online games are those games, for real money or otherwise, which do not involve gambling, harm the user in its content and do not create any addictive consequences for children ”
These SROs will consist of experienced gamers, industry experts, academicians, psychologists, communication experts and other stakeholders and not just the government.
Online gaming innovation and startups will get a big boost #DigitalNagriks Be safe with online betting. #online gaming The regulations will act as a major catalyst for the online gaming startup ecosystem while ensuring the safety of gamers, including children, and clearly… pic.twitter.com/ykyGyLo5mH– Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@Rajeev_GoI) April 6, 2023
How many SROs will the government create?
The Ministry may, in accordance with the rules, designate as many online gaming self-regulatory bodies as it considers necessary for the purposes of verifying an online real money game as a permitted online real money game under these rules.
What will be the basis for declaring online games as permitted or not?
These SROs will decide which online real money games may be permitted based on several factors:
If the online real money game does not involve betting on an outcome,
If the arbitrator and such online games are in compliance with rules 3 and 4 of the amended IT Act, 2000.
How do users know that a particular intermediary is verified?
Online Real Money Game Verified and Online Gaming Intermediaries shall display a clear and visible mark of such verification stating that the Online Real Money Game has been recognized by the Online Gaming Regulatory Body as a permissible Online Real Money Game under these Rules as verified.
Real money games will have to comply with KYC norms as per regulations.