The PROG Act: Navigating India’s online gaming rules for 2026

by

Story Highlights

  • India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act 2025 comes into effect from May 1, 2026.
  • Complete ban imposed on online money gaming, including ads and transactions.
  • A new Online Gaming Authority has also been created to regulate and classify games.

As a gamer in India, I’m really hearing about this huge change coming! It looks like the new rules for online gaming – officially called the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, and the rules that go with it from 2026 – are finally kicking in on May 1st, 2026. It’s a big deal for all of us who love to play!

This new policy establishes a framework for the operation of online games in India. Essentially, the government aims to both develop India as a leading global gaming center and increase regulation, particularly concerning games involving real money, to address existing concerns.

Online games are classified into esports, social games, and money games

One key change is the way games are categorized. The new system divides online games into three types: esports, social games, and games where players can win money. Esports and casual games that rely on skill are considered low-risk and should be approved.

As early as August 2025, India had already suggested a new law for online gaming. This bill specifically focused on games involving real money and apps similar to gambling, but it also officially recognized esports as a legitimate sport.

The initial version of the proposal suggested tighter regulations, particularly regarding potential addiction, financial dangers, and practices that encourage players to spend money. Industry professionals generally supported the bill, believing it will significantly shape the future of Esports and gaming.

What was once a proposed idea is now a strict law. The main change is a total ban on all online money games, no matter if they rely on skill or luck. This includes stopping any advertising, promotions, and financial dealings related to these games.

This will stop banks from handling these types of payments. The consequences are severe, potentially including up to five years in prison and fines as high as ₹2 crore (around $2.1 million) for those who repeatedly break the rules.

To handle these issues, the government is creating a new organization called the Online Gaming Authority of India, which will operate under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This group will review and categorize online games, and will have 90 days to decide if each game is permitted or banned in India.

The organization will keep a public list of prohibited games and manage sign-ups for esports events and officially sanctioned games. To ensure player safety, all approved games must include features like age verification, parental controls, and playtime limits.

Every game is reviewed within 90 days to ensure it meets our standards, and some categories, such as esports and major game releases, require official registration. The whole system is designed to be online, meaning approvals and any issues will generally be handled through our website.

Read More

2026-04-30 20:43