After years and years of ignoring the problem, Indian authorities have finally decided to put some effort into regulating the online gambling market. The 19th-century law still in power, simply doesn’t cover the needs of players and the state, nor does it recognize the latest trends. It is not surprising that recent developments in the sector have kept industry players on the edge of their seats.
The Indian government has introduced regulations to regulate the industry, banning real-money games that involve wagering or betting. As per Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the online games Indians will be able to play are those that do not involve user harm, addiction in children, or wagering.
To regulate these games, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will appoint three self-regulatory organizations (SRO) to certify permitted online games.
Furthermore, MeitY has notified the IT Rules to regulate the online gaming sector, which places it under the central government’s exclusive regulatory purview. The states will only legislate on matters related to betting and gambling, i.e., game of chance. BestIndianCasinos.co.in has got the full list of Indian online casinos where it is safe to play and win.
Multiple Storms at Once
Opponents of online gambling applaud the Government’s efforts, while others display their scepticism wherever they can. From freedom of speech and business, to lack of trust to initiatives that start with a bang only to get engulfed by corruption, inefficiency, and the black market – there are plenty of those who do not oppose, but raise concerns about the new system of regulation.
Stakeholders are not thrilled by the entire SRO idea either. According to Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation, the new law treats games of skill and chance the same, and it prohibits the use of random number generators, which are necessary for fairness in online gaming. He further adds, “We will contest the legality of the law once the effective date is announced, and we have complete confidence in our legal system’s ability to uphold the gaming platforms and their users’ fundamental rights.”
The debate of what is a game of skill, and what is a game of chance still continues. But, now, the authorities also tossed in fantasy games that are rarely viewed as gambling, and are, as a rule, perceived as a video gaming domain, rather than pure gambling. It remains unclear how much will the Indian fantasy gaming industry be affected by SROs, and the new policies, as there are different interpretations of the genre and its potential risks.
Also some players face the issues with payment methods offered by online casinos. It is known that UPI casinos are safer to play than those which offer PayPal payment methods.
New Rules 101
India is a country that often gets lost in its own bureaucratic apparatus, so the new regulations raised quite a few brows, especially by those interested in expanding their business onto the Indian market. Let’s not forget, in addition to the rules and regulations state-wide, all Indian states have a certain level of autonomy when it comes to gambling.
The new rules require gambling companies to adhere to all the rules imposed by SROs, and they are not allowed to offer wagering based solemnly on the outcome. Gambling firms must also sustain from any type of advertising, publishing and sharing of any games deemed as harmful content. Any type of so-called surrogate advertising is also banned.
Companies are also obliged to do verification procedures and implement strict KYC policies. The SROs will also make sure gambling games have all the necessary safe gaming tools, age warnings and other responsible gaming features added. Finally, players must have the option to exclude themselves from the platform if they think things have gone too far.
