Online Gaming Registration (India) – End-to-End Setup & Compliance

Who we help

Startups, studios, and platforms that want to launch or regularise an online gaming app in India—from e-sports and social/educational games to state-licensed “games of skill.”

What’s changing now
On Aug 20, 2025, the Union government introduced/passed in Lok Sabha the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The Bill promotes e-sports & social/educational games but proposes a complete ban on “online money games” (games played with monetary stakes). It also creates a central Online Gaming Authority with powers to register games, block unlawful services, and enforce penalties. Until it becomes law, current rules under the IT Rules 2021 (amended 2023) continue to apply.

Our Services (One Window)

1. Business setup – Private Limited Company/LLP, PAN, TAN, GST, IEC (if needed).

2. Regulatory mapping – Central vs. State rules (TN, Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, etc.), what you can/can’t offer today. 

3. Game classification & approvals – Aligning with the 2025 Bill categories (e-sports, social, educational; excluding money games), liaison with the proposed Authority once notified.

4. Policy, T&Cs & age-gating – Player T&Cs, privacy policy (DPDP Act), KYC/AML where applicable, parental controls, grievance redressal. 

5. Tax readiness – GST (28% on online gaming as applicable), invoicing flows; Income-tax on player winnings (TDS) integration for permissible formats.

6. Payments & data – Payment flows that comply with Indian rules; data storage & consent flows per DPDP.

7. State licences (where relevant) – Skill-gaming licences/registrations in states that permit/regulate (e.g., Nagaland, Sikkim); TN-specific compliance for any permitted categories. 

8. Ongoing compliance – IT Rules (2023) obligations for gaming intermediaries: grievance officer, complaint timelines, additional due-diligence once SRO/Authority is in force. 

9. Audit & representation – Notices, blocking risks, advertising compliance, and liaison with authorities.

What exactly is “Online Gaming Registration”?

Today (status-quo):

• The IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules as amended on Apr 6, 2023 added a framework for online gaming intermediaries, requiring due diligence, KYC/age-gating safeguards, grievance officers, and potential self-regulatory organisations (SROs) to verify “permissible” games. 

What the 2025 Bill brings (once notified):

• Four buckets of online games: e-sports, social, educational, and online money games.

• Complete prohibition on offering/promoting online money games; blocking powers and penalties.

• A central Online Gaming Authority to register games, make safety standards, and enforce. 

State overlay (key examples):

• Tamil Nadu: The TN Prohibition of Online Gambling & Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022 (Act 9 of 2023) is in force; the TN Online Gaming Authority and 2025 Regulations (Real Money Games) exist—TN has some of the strictest rules and its authority regulates games offered to TN users (even by non-TN providers). 

• Nagaland: Licence regime for specified online games of skill. 

• Sikkim: Online Gaming Regulation framework (largely intranet/controlled access).

• Karnataka: The blanket ban (2021 amendments) was struck down by the High Court in 2022—useful context while planning national rollouts.

What you can build now (practical guidance)

• E-sports apps & tournament platforms (matchmaking, ladders, ticketing, event ops) – green under Bill intent; follow IT Rules + privacy + child-safety standards. 

• Social/educational games (no stakes, no prize money; purely entertainment/learning) – green; comply with content safety and ads standards.

• Real-money formats (rummy/poker/fantasy etc.) – high risk: already subject to 28% GST on full face value; the 2025 Bill proposes a nationwide prohibition. Avoid fresh builds; consider pivot plans. 

Documents you’ll typically need

• Founders’ KYC, MoA/AoA (for Private Ltd/LLP deed), board resolution.

• Game design notes & content ratings; age-gating and parental controls.

• Privacy policy & consent flows aligned to the DPDP Act, 2023. 

• Grievance redressal SOP, 24×7 contact, user complaint ledger.

• Tax stack: GST registration, invoicing logic; TDS on net winnings integration if your format ever touches permissible prize schemes (today tightly restricted). 

Step-by-Step: How we launch your gaming app

1. Entity & tax IDs (Pvt Ltd/LLP, PAN, TAN, GST).

2. Regulatory fitment note (Central Bill status, IT Rules, State overlays). 

3. Product scopes – classify your game (e-sports/social/educational), remove any money-stake features.

4. Docs & policies – T&Cs, privacy (DPDP), child safety, community standards. 

5. Compliance setup – grievance officer, notices flow, takedown SOPs, logs retention. 

6. Payments & ads – only permitted flows; ad/marketing vetting (no money-game promotion under the Bill).

7. State checks – if targeting TN/Nagaland/Sikkim etc., we secure the necessary registrations/permissions. 

8. Tax plumbing – GST mapping; if applicable, TDS on winnings engines; reporting. Pre-launch legal audit – checklists & evidence bundle.

9. Post-launch monitoring – release governance, updates, and periodic audits.

Taxes & Money Flows (plain English)

• GST: As of now, 28% applies to online gaming with special rules for online money gaming after the 2023 GST amendments. We structure your product and invoices to fit current law.

• Income-tax: Section 194BA requires TDS on net winnings from online games; Section 115BBJ taxes such winnings at a special rate—relevant only if your format lawfully awards taxable winnings.

FAQs

1) Can I launch a real-money game right now?
Not advisable. The 2025 Bill proposes a nationwide ban on online money games and includes strict penalties and blocking. Plan for e-sports/social/educational formats instead.

2) What if I only target one state?
You must still follow Central rules (IT Rules 2023; DPDP). Some states add extra layers (e.g., Tamil Nadu has its own Authority & regulations; Nagaland/Sikkim have licensing paths). We help you decide the safest route. 

3) What about past court rulings on skill games?
Courts (e.g., Karnataka HC, 2022) struck down blanket state bans on skill gaming. But the 2025 Bill is a central law that, if enacted, will override such regimes for money games. 

4) Do I need a separate “app registration”?
There is no single “national app licence.” Your company + compliance stack is the core. Store listings (Play/App Store) require correct age ratings, disclosures, and content compliance—we prepare these artefacts for smooth reviews (policies evolve; we keep you updated).

Why choose us

• Gaming-first regulatory playbooks adapted to your genre and states.

• Fast execution from incorporation to compliance go-live.

• Ongoing monitoring so you stay on the right side of new rules (like the 2025 Bill).

Ready to start?

Tell us your game concept and target states. We’ll send a no-obligation roadmap with timelines, cost heads, and a launch checklist tailored to you.

Sources (key legal hooks)

• Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 (classification, central Authority, prohibitions).

• IT Rules 2021 (Amendment 2023) – Online gaming intermediary due-diligence & SRO model.

• GST on online gaming – GST Council decision & CGST Amendment, 2023. 

• Income-tax on online gaming winnings (TDS/Rate) – CBDT/Income-tax portal. 

• State examples – TN Act & Authority; Nagaland & Sikkim regimes.