GNLU reports 500 million Indian online gamers
Gandhinagar : A study report prepared by Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) in Gandhinagar has highlighted the urgent need for regulations in the online gaming industry in India. The report...
The GNLU study has proposed a unified regulatory structure for the online gaming industry. The report, which was also submitted to the state government, presents various findings and recommendations to justify the need for such regulations.The study emphasises that there should be limits on how much time users spend on gaming apps and how much money they can transact. It also recommends a filtering system to identify and approve only those apps and platforms that meet certain quality standards.
While some states in India have implemented their regulations for online gaming, and many other countries worldwide have similar regulations in place, the Indian online gaming industry as a whole remains largely unregulated.
Madras HC ruling on online gaming
The Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act 2021, passed by the state government, prohibited all forms of online games (including games based on mere skills) within the state.
While hearing a petition challenging this, the Madras High Court in 2021 ruled that a blanket ban falls foul of the right to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade, or business mentioned in the Constitution.
Responding to the advocate general’s argument that online games could be susceptible to manipulation, the court remarked, “You regulate it. You can’t ban the games altogether.”
However, it added that this judgment doesn’t bar the state from formulating any other legislation in this regard.
