GoI to set time and spending limits on online games to curb gaming addiction: Report

The Government of India is apparently mulling over implementing stricter regulations on online games in order to address concerns about gaming addiction, particularly among children and young adults, as per reports.

Sources within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology have indicated that there is growing support for imposing time and spending limits on online and real money games, as per a report by the Economic Times.

This strategy, which is similar to the curbs adopted in China, has gained a lot of traction during recent internal discussions, the report said.

Rather than relying solely on self-regulatory organizations (SROs) to determine the permissibility of games, the government is exploring the possibility of imposing time limits as a more proactive approach.

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According to an official from the IT ministry, this approach is seen as a better alternative to certifying games, as it reduces the risk of industry influence on regulatory decisions, especially given the involvement of young players.

India stands as one of the largest gaming markets globally, boasting approximately 570 million active gamers. A significant portion of these gamers, about 25 per cent or so, are involved in real-money gaming activities.

To address concerns about gaming addiction, the proposed regulations aim to curb both the time spent on gaming activities and the money a player spends on them.

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If these regulations come into effect, gaming companies will be tasked with implementing mechanisms to ensure gamers comply with the prescribed limits. For example, limits on daily spending could be tailored based on factors such as a player’s historical expenditure patterns and age demographics.

Government officials are optimistic about the feasibility of implementing these measures, and have highlighted the need for collaborating with the gaming industry to develop effective solutions.

While the regulations are still in the discussion stage, there is a consensus within the ministry on the need for robust measures to tackle gaming addiction among the youth population.

In April 2023, the IT ministry notified rules for the gaming industry, giving stakeholders a 90-day window to form an SRO. However, none of the proposals received government approval, as they were perceived to be influenced by industry interests.

Despite receiving three proposals, the IT ministry opted not to proceed with any of them, citing concerns about potential industry bias.