Under The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, the Indian government has made a clear distinction between real-money online games and e-sports/social gaming, with a focus on encouraging the growth and responsible regulation of the latter:
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Definition: E-sports and social gaming refer to online games played for entertainment, skill development, or competition, which do not involve staking or wagering money or anything of monetary value as a precondition for participation or winning rewards.
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Encouragement of E-sports: The Bill aims to promote e-sports as a legitimate activity, supporting digital skill development, technological advancement, and job creation within India’s growing digital and creative economy. This is in line with global trends that recognize e-sports as a structured, skill-based digital competition.
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Regulatory Support: It introduces the establishment of a central authority to develop policy, oversee sectoral growth, and implement standards for fair play and player protection in e-sports and other non-monetary online games.
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Social Gaming: Social (casual) online games that do not involve entry fees, betting, or wagering are explicitly allowed and encouraged under the Bill. These games are seen as safe, enjoyable ways for users to socialize and engage online without financial risk.
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No Penalties or Restrictions: There are no prohibitions, penalties, or restrictions on pure e-sports competitions or social gaming platforms as long as they operate without monetary stakes and comply with general safety and privacy norms.
In summary, the Bill seeks to create a supportive regulatory environment for e-sports and social gaming, distinguishing them from prohibited real-money gaming in order to foster innovation, youth engagement, and digital growth in India.