Government proposes to make violation of online money game rules non-bailable; draft rules ban ....

The government has proposed making violations of online money gaming rules a non-bailable offence, with the entire company staff held liable for facilitating such breaches, according to draft rules released this week. The draft rules, framed under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, allow authorized officers to enter any physical or digital location, conduct searches, and arrest individuals suspected of committing or planning to commit offences under the Act without a warrant. "Notwithstanding anything contained in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, offences under section 5 and section 7 shall be cognizable and non-bailable," the draft rules stated, as per a report by news agency PTI.

Section 5 under the draft rules prohibits entities from offering, aiding, abetting, inducing or engaging in online money games and online money gaming services.

Section 7 bars banks, financial institutions, or any other person from facilitating financial transactions for any online money gaming service.

The draft rules have been framed under section 19 of the PROG Act, which received the President's assent and was notified on August 22.

The PROG Act bans online money games and their promotion in India. The draft rules also provide legal protection to authorized officers conducting searches, including on devices, shielding them from lawsuits or legal proceedings.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT has invited public feedback on the draft rules until October 31.