Gaming self-regulation yet to kick off as consensus eludes

Govt concerned over how the applicants operate, their influence from gaming entities

- Shouvik Das

Self-regulation in online gaming remains stalled more than four months after the plan was floated as the industry continues to be a divided house, three industry officials said, even as the government worries whether some entities may exert undue influence over the regulating entities.

On 6 April, the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) moved to create a framework of self-regulatory organizations (SROs), which will act against gambling apps and betting apps offering real-money games. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union minister of state for electronics and IT, said it will start off with three such bodies, with scope for more to follow. Games that do not involve monetary transactions need not be certified by SROs.

Two of the three people cited above said one of the aspirants is the All-India Gaming Regulator (AIGR) Foundation. Registrar of Companies data shows gaming industry veteran Gaurav Gaggar listed as a member of the AIGR Foundation, incorporated on 31 July. One of them said retired cricketer Virender Sehwag will also be part of this body. Neither Gaggar nor Sehwag responded to emailed queries from Mint until press time.