The Indian government is considering a new policy that would require online social games from China, Pakistan, and Turkey to register with the government. This move comes as the government notified the final rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025. The Act bans all online money games and comes into force on May 1.
Registration is mandatory only for e-sports, while online money games cannot be registered as e-sports. The government will block apps and websites that allow users to access banned platforms through VPNs and offshore apps. Financial intermediaries, including banks, must verify registration certificates before processing payments for online social games and e-sports.
The rules also introduce a determination test to classify whether a game is an online money game. The test is triggered in three cases: when the Authority acts suo motu, when a provider seeks e-sport status for a game, or when the government mandates it for certain categories of social games by notification.
The final rules also sharpen the determination test, adding factors such as whether users have an expectation of winning, how payments are characterised, and whether in-game assets can be monetised or converted into real-world value.
