The government has floated bold new draft regulations aimed at online money-gaming, proposing that violations be treated as non-bailable offences. Under the draft rules, all personnel within a company implicated in facilitating or enabling such infractions could be held liable.
Key features of the proposal:
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Designated officers would be empowered to conduct warrantless searches and arrests—whether in physical premises or digital locations—where there is suspicion of wrongdoing under the new regime.
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The regulations stem from the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, which bans the offering and promotion of online monetary gaming services.
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Under section 5 of this draft, organizations are barred from running, supporting, or enabling these services. Section 7 targets banks, financial institutions, and individuals, barring them from processing transactions related to online monetary gaming.
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The draft explicitly states that offences under sections 5 and 7 are to be cognizable (i.e. arrest can happen without warrant) and non-bailable, notwithstanding other statutes such as the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
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The rules also propose legal protection for authorised officers carrying out investigations over “suspicious locations and devices.”
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The Ministry of Electronics and IT has opened these draft regulations for public consultation until October 31.
Read More: precedenceresearch.com