The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) introduced new regulations for online real-money gaming in the state, imposing stricter controls and tighter regulations on these platforms.
The new regulations include the following mandates:
- Online real-money games are strictly prohibited for minors (under 18).
- KYC verification is mandatory at account creation, with an additional layer of authentication via Aadhaar, through OTP sent to the linked mobile number.
- A pop-up message must appear after one hour of gameplay and every 30 minutes thereafter, displaying the total time spent.
- Access to gaming platforms is restricted between midnight and 5 AM, prohibiting logins during these hours.
- Online game providers must let players set daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits and display a pop-up showing the limit and amount spent whenever they deposit money.
- Real-money gaming sites/apps must continuously display a caution on the login page stating, “Online gaming is addictive in nature.”
Tamil Nadu’s Regulatory Conflict over Online Gaming
Earlier reports suggested that TNOGA planned to regulate games without distinguishing between online and real-money games. Instead, the focus was on limiting time spent on gaming platforms to combat addiction.
This follows the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022, which bans online gambling, games of chance, and betting. Violators face up to three months in prison, a fine of up to Rs 5,000, or both.
In 2023, the state attempted to ban online real-money games, but the Madras High Court once again exempted poker and rummy—marking the second failed attempt to prohibit these games.
The first law, introduced in 2021, was struck down on constitutional grounds. The state government then appealed the decision before the Supreme Court, where the case is still pending.
In 2022, reports linked at least 17 suicides in the state to online gambling. The law was introduced in response to the rising number of gambling-related suicides and the ensuing public outcry. It explicitly classifies online games like rummy and poker as “games of chance,” making them illegal.
How the 2022 Act Reevaluates Online Gaming
The 2022 Act argues that traditional classifications of games as either chance-based or skill-based are outdated.
“…It is considered that the issues of online gaming and gambling cannot be dealt with by the old binary of game of chance versus game of skill. A new conceptual framework is needed—one that incorporates an understanding of how information technology operates at a basic level, the critical differences between physical and online gaming, and the distinctions between physical and online versions of games,” it states.
Digital platforms use advanced algorithms, psychological triggers, and accessibility features that make them more immersive and potentially addictive. The law suggests that regulation should account for these technological factors rather than relying solely on conventional legal definitions.
The Act aims to create a more effective regulatory framework that addresses modern challenges, including addiction, financial risks, and player protection.
Similar Cry in Karnataka Over Online Rummy
Last year in October, protests emerged in Karnataka as well to ban online rummy games. Activists claimed that “hundreds of youths are gambling real money through online games” and warned that marginalised young people were taking on heavy loans and becoming increasingly vulnerable to addiction.
However, Tamil Nadu’s new regulations raise questions about how such restrictions can be effectively enforced and operationalised.
Some questions we had:
- Is the midnight-to-5 AM login restriction enforced based on the user’s device/system time, IP tracking, or platform-side server restrictions?
- How will authorities prevent users from circumventing this restriction by changing device settings or using VPNs?
- If a Tamil Nadu resident travels to another state where these restrictions do not apply, will they be able to access real-money gaming platforms freely?
- Will location-based tracking (such as GPS or IP restrictions) be implemented to enforce compliance?
- Are users permitted to create multiple gaming accounts?
- What technologies will prevent duplicate accounts and loopholes, such as device fingerprinting or identity verification?
- What standardised enforcement strategies will ensure all online gaming operators uniformly implement these regulations across diverse platforms?
- Will there be a centralised monitoring authority or compliance audits?
- What specific age verification processes will be mandated for gaming platforms to prevent minors from accessing real-money games?
- Will Aadhaar-based authentication be compulsory for all users, and how will platforms handle cases of misrepresentation or identity fraud?
- What mechanisms will enforce regulations across gaming platforms, and how will authorities ensure operator compliance?
Why it Matters
While restrictions aim to curb addiction and financial distress, enforcement remains complex. Users can bypass state bans using VPNs or by accessing platforms from other regions, making jurisdictional control difficult. Additionally, defining a clear distinction between games of skill and chance is legally contentious, as seen in court rulings exempting rummy and poker. Without a centralised regulatory mechanism and cross-state cooperation, bans may drive gaming underground rather than eliminate it.
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