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The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority has introduced a stringent set of rules to regulate online real money gaming, including a complete prohibition on minors participating in such games.

According to the revised guidelines, an ‘online real money game’ is defined as a game where a user deposits cash or kind with the expectation of earning ‘winnings’, in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The regulations clarified that ‘winnings’ include prizes, either in cash or kind, which are distributed or intended to be distributed based on a player’s performance in the online game.

The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority, chaired by retired IAS officer Md. Nasimuddin, was set up to regulate online gaming activities, issue registration certificates to local gaming providers, identify games of chance for government review, and oversee the functioning of online gaming platforms within the State.

The new regulatory framework was officially approved through a notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Kumar. According to it, those under the age of 18 are strictly prohibited from participating in online real money games.

Additionally, Know Your Customer verification is now mandatory for creating an account. This process will require an initial login authentication through Aadhaar verification, followed by a secondary layer of verification using a one-time password (OTP) sent to a mobile number linked to the Aadhaar.

To enhance responsible gaming practices, online gaming providers must implement real-time cautionary measures. A pop-up warning message must appear when a person plays for over an hour, with subsequent warnings at 30-minute intervals indicating the total time spent playing. Moreover, gaming platforms must offer players the ability to set daily, weekly, and monthly monetary limits. Upon depositing funds, a reminder displaying the player’s monetary limit and their total spending must be prominently shown in bold text.

The regulations also mandate that a continuous caution message be displayed on the login page of real money gaming websites and applications, warning users of the addictive nature of these games. The message will read ‘Online Gaming is Addictive in Nature’.

Additionally, to curb excessive gaming, the State has implemented ‘blank hours’ from midnight to 5 a.m. (IST), during which no logins to real money gaming platforms will be permitted.