Indian state to draft new gaming act to regulate online platforms
As the online gaming industry expands rapidly across India, the Uttarakhand government is drafting a new gaming Act to better regulate digital gaming and clearly distinguish it from gambling.
According to a Jagran report, the draft is already under preparation and is expected to bring much-needed clarity for online gaming platforms and users.
Replacing outdated gambling laws
Uttarakhand currently uses the old Gambling Act, which excludes “games of skill” from the definition of gambling. However, with the rapid digital transformation of gaming, the state government sees the need for an updated legal framework. The proposed gaming Act is intended to replace the outdated legislation with a more modern and specific law that reflects today’s digital gaming landscape.
According to the report, the new draft aims to clearly define online gaming and outline which activities qualify as gaming and which will be classified as gambling. For instance, “betting on the win or loss of teams” may be treated as gambling under the proposed framework.
Gaming industry sees rapid growth
In recent years, many digital platforms have emerged, allowing users to win money by forming virtual teams and participating in competitive games. This trend has led to a significant rise in the popularity of gaming apps and websites, attracting millions of users across states.
With this growth, state governments are stepping in to manage the sector—both from a regulatory and revenue-generating standpoint. Several states have already enacted their own gaming Acts, issued licences to online gaming companies.
Karnataka also to regulate online gambling with new law
The Karnataka government is drafting new legislation to regulate online gambling and betting platforms. The move aims to curb fraud, enhance user safety, and support the state’s fast-growing legal online gaming sector.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara announced the formation of a committee to prepare the draft law within a month. The panel includes senior government officials and representatives from the gaming industry.
“There is currently no regulation for these platforms. Industry representatives have agreed on the need for licensing and a proper legal framework,” said Parameshwara after a joint meeting with the IT minister.
The new law will be modelled on Chhattisgarh’s regulatory framework, which makes a clear distinction between games of skill and games of chance. While the government plans to prohibit chance-based gambling, it intends to support innovation and growth in skill-based online gaming.
