What is a Responsible Gaming Policy A Guide in India

By connecting players with these external resources, online platforms can provide holistic support that goes beyond mere exclusion from gaming. Online platforms should include responsible gaming messages in their advertising, such as reminders to play within one’s means, set limits, and seek help if gambling is causing stress. These messages can be incorporated into digital banners, social media posts, email campaigns, and in-app notifications.

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Once identified, these at-risk players can be flagged for responsible gaming interventions, which might include personalized messages, offers of support, or suggestions to use limit-setting tools. The document outlines PAGCOR’s code of practice for responsible gaming which establishes rules and guidelines around limiting harm, preventing addiction, and prohibiting underage gambling. It defines key terms and sets standards for probity, financial transactions, fair gaming experiences, awareness programs, advertising, facilities, training, support services, and exclusion programs. Licensees and their boards of directors must electronically submit personal disclosure statements and tax documents each year to maintain suitability and integrity. Both codes stipulate that gaming intermediaries comply with existing laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Safety

India has one of the fastest-growing online betting markets, especially in cricket betting. With IPL, World Cup matches, and local tournaments, lakhs of players are joining platforms like Reddybook to test their skills and luck. Operators may be reluctant to enforce strict RG tools if they believe it will affect their bottom line. However, research increasingly shows that safer gambling cultures lead to greater long-term profitability (PwC, 2022).

• Data analysis and player monitoring are critical for enhancing responsible gaming efforts in online platforms.
• Platforms must also comply with regulations that prohibit targeting vulnerable groups, such as minors or individuals who have self-excluded.
• Moving forward, gaming applications must allow users to set their financial or spending limits, as stipulated by both codes.
• Advertisements for online real-money games must be “fair and truthful,” contain necessary disclaimers and warnings, “not induce or entice minors,” and not misrepresent information about winning probabilities.
• Further, operators should possess a valid Extended Validation Certificate as per TLS/SSL standards.
• Both codes stipulate that gaming intermediaries comply with existing laws, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Promoting Limit-Setting Tools

The 2023 code outlines that such platforms must affirm users’ ages and eligibility through “user acceptance of terms and conditions” and platform verification. However, the 2025 code lists the process explicitly, mandating the player to declare being above 18 years old either during registration or while making the first deposit in the game. This moral standard assures that games promote fair play and respect for others in the gaming community, as well as prohibit cheating and other forms of misconduct.

SKOCH Centre of Excellence has mapped existing responsible gaming practices from India, UK, USA, Brazil, Germany, France and Canada. Responsible operators allow users to set limits on their spending to manage their gambling behaviour more effectively. When combined with real-time alerts and spending summaries, these tools become multiplayer entertainment destination highly effective deterrents.

This includes adhering to advertising standards that restrict ads from appearing during certain times of day or on platforms that cater to younger audiences. Online platforms can also partner with external organizations to provide on-demand counseling and support services. Collaborations with third-party providers, such as GamCare or BeGambleAware, enable platforms to offer players access to professional help directly through the site. These services can be particularly valuable for players who may be reluctant to seek help outside the gaming environment, providing a convenient and confidential way to connect with support. Notably, the new code also prohibits operators from enticing underage players through advertising and promotional strategies like “Free-to-Play” games/offers.

As the Indian gaming industry has rapidly grown in the last few years, regulations have become necessary as concerns of addiction and financial stress have increased. In light of this, EGF rules that players under the age of 18 are not allowed to play any skill-based, real-money online games. This is why RG tools’s value and efficiency depend not on game types but on their nature.