Regulation of Online Games: Central Government Amends Information Technology Rules 

Online games are very popular now and the Central Government has made some changes to the technology related laws. As of now, we have the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The Central Government (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) has notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 to amend the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The 6 amendments have been made. Some of the amendments suggested are:

1. After the words “intermediary or the”, the words “online gaming self-regulatory body or the” shall be inserted in Rule 2(1)(k).
2. Defined online game‟ means a game that is offered on the Internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource or an intermediary.
3. Defined online real money game‟ means an online game where a user makes a deposit in cash or kind with the expectation of earning winnings on that deposit.
4. Rule 3(1)(b) – in sub-clause (ii), after the words “or gambling,”, the words “or an online game that causes user harm,” shall be inserted;

After the sub rule 9, the amendment rules inserted 4 other sub rules. According to the notification, the online gaming self-regulatory body. It shall publish and maintain on its website, mobile based application or both, at all times, an updated list of all permissible online real money games verified under sub-rule (3), along with the details of such online games.

Nowadays people are falling into the trap of online real money gaming. The central government has taken the right step by regulating the online games and amending the same according to the situations.

It is also notified that the obligations under rules 3 and 4 shall not apply in relation to online games until the expiry of a period of three months from the date on which at least three online gaming self-regulatory bodies have been designated under rule 4A.

However it is also provided that the Central Government may, at any time before the expiry of the said period of three months, by a notification in the Official Gazette, direct that the obligations under rules 3 and 4 shall apply in relation to an online game from such date as may be specified in the notification.

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