New Delhi: The Indian government is consistently striving for an internet that is open, safe, and trusted and verifies. Towards this end, the government has introduced stringent provisions in the IT Rules 2021 in relation to social and economic risks of online gaming.
The government is aware that there are issues of addiction, financial risk and other harm associated with online gaming, central Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament. The IT Act, 2000, for the first time imposed stringent obligations on online gaming platforms and the like.
Tougher rules for online gamblers
Ban on illegal content: The online games platform must[13] not conduct, store, or publish any content that is illegal, misleading, exploitative of children, related to the laundering of money, or gambling.
Timely Response in Case of Complaint: If any objectionable content is uploaded on the platform, the platform should act promptly, if a complaint is filed;
Blocking Orders: The law gives the government the power to block links or sites that may threaten national sovereignty, security, foreign relations, and public order.
The government’s position on betting and gambling online
Between 2022-2024, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has ordered the blocking of 1,298 online betting, gambling, and gaming websites along with mobile applications. An annual report, titled “Crime in India,” is published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) with data on thousands of offences. NCRB does not have data on specific suicides due to online gaming.