India: Online gaming ban act to take effect October 1

The government will implement the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act from October 1, and the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules will be notified within 10 days, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Thursday.

Speaking at a pre-event conference for the AI Impact Summit 2026, Vaishnaw said both measures had undergone extensive stakeholder consultations and were now in their final stages, the Financial Express reported.

The Online Gaming Act, passed by Parliament last month, prohibits all forms of online gambling while promoting e-sports and social gaming. 

Vaishnaw noted that the government had been in continuous discussions with the gaming industry for nearly three years, including multiple rounds even after the law was passed, to fine-tune its implementation. Banks and other stakeholders were also consulted to resolve issues such as handling funds left in user accounts.

“We have finalised the rules, but we will hold one more round of discussions with the industry," he said. "If more time is needed, we will consider it, since our approach has always been consultative."

On the DPDP rules, Vaishnaw said the framework is ready and expected to be published by September 28, clarifying consent, data storage, and user rights.

At the Public Affairs Forum of India event, Vaishnaw stressed growth and self-reliance, highlighting initiatives in semiconductors and 5G, and called for ideas for the next wave of economic reforms.