Isaac Joseph, MNLU, Mumbai
What is the current gaming legal framework governing online gaming how effective is it in regulating the industry?
The current gaming legal framework governing online gaming in India is still evolving. The central government has issued some guidelines for online gaming, but the states have different laws and regulations. This can make it extremely difficult for businesses to operate in the online gaming industry in India.
The central government's guidelines for online gaming focus on ensuring that games are fair and transparent, and that players are protected from fraud and addiction. The guidelines also require online gaming platforms to obtain a license from the government.
Recently, following an extensive series of consultations that included input from a diverse range of stakeholders, such as gaming operators, intermediaries, investors, parents, and non- governmental organizations, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has issued the Gaming Amendments. The Gaming Amendments are a positive step in a rapidly changing sector, providing a regulatory foundation for an industry that has long been plagued by uncertainty, disruption, and bad behavior by outliers. The fact that the journey from conception to a binding framework took only four months is commendable. The innovative co-regulatory governance mechanism has the potential to provide further impetus to India's digital gaming economy1.
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