Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said on Thursday that the online real-money gaming (RMG) ban is set to formally come into effect on October 1, unless the industry makes urgent requests that require a delay. Vaishnaw made the remarks on the sidelines of a pre-event for the AI Impact Summit, scheduled to be hosted by India in February next year.
The ban has already been largely adopted by the RMG sector, although some companies have challenged the prohibition in court. The law, which was passed during the monsoon session of Parliament within 72 hours of Cabinet approval, has not yet been formally notified. As firms wind down operations and process refunds, the government appears to be preparing to implement the ban officially.
“We have engaged with banks and consulted practically every stakeholder involved, and the rules have now been finalised,” Vaishnaw said. “The rules will come into effect from 1st October. Before that, we will hold one more round of discussions with the industry. And if they need more time, we will adopt a more conservative approach.”
Vaishnaw also stated that the Ministry of Electronics and IT has finalised the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, which are expected to be notified by September 28 at the latest. These rules have been pending since the Digital Personal Data Protection Act was passed two years ago, and the law cannot be enforced without them.
Media representatives have raised concerns to the IT Ministry that the Act does not provide sufficient safeguards for journalists collecting data. The Ministry has assured that FAQs addressing these issues will be published once the Rules are notified, Vaishnaw added.
Officials emphasised that the implementation of both the real-money gaming rules and the DPDP Rules will remain consultative. Stakeholder discussions, including with banks and industry participants, are intended to ensure smooth enforcement, with a phased approach considered if additional time is requested.
