Lok Sabha Question No. 1050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Income of Online Gaming Sites
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1050

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 8.2.2023

## INCOME OF ONLINE GAMING SITES

## 1050.   SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to conduct a survey to study the amount of money, the people of the country investing daily in illegal places through online gaming and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  these  acts  amount  to  clear  cheating  by  attracting  the  audience  to  the  online gaming sites through placing attractive advertisements on various online portals and if so, the details of the steps being taken by the Government in this regard;

(c)  the  number  of  such  online  gaming  sites  operating  in  the  country  and  whether  any mandatory registration is required for these gaming sites;

(d) whether the Government is aware about the daily turnover of those companies on such gaming sites; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the revenue earned by means of tax collection from such sites?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a): No such survey is under consideration of the Central Government.

(b):The  policies  of  the  Government  are  aimed  at  ensuring  an  Open,  Safe  and  Trusted  and Accountable  Internet  for  its  users.  With  the  expansion  of  the  Internet  and  more  and  more Indians  coming  online,  the  potential  for  Indians  being  exposed  to  illegal  applications including betting, has also increased.

To help achieve the aim of making  Internet  Open,  Safe  and  Trusted  and  Accountable,  the Central  Government,  in  exercise  of  powers  conferred  by  the  Information  Technology  Act, 2000,  has  made  the  Information  Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These rules cast specific obligation on intermediaries, including intermediaries offering online games, to observe  diligence and provides that if they  fail to observe  such  diligence,  they  shall  no  longer  be  exempt  from  their  liability  under  law  for third-party  information  or  data  or  communication  link  hosted  by  them.  Such  diligence includes the following:

- (i) To make reasonable efforts to cause its user not to host, display, publish, transmit or share any information that causes incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence, or encourages gambling, or violates any law for the time being in force;
- (ii) To not host, store or publish unlawful information prohibited under law for the time being  in  force,  on  a  voluntary  basis  on  violation  of  the  above,  and  on  actual knowledge upon receipt of a grievance or court order or notice from the appropriate government or its agency;
- (iii) To  have  in  place  a  grievance  redressal  machinery,  and  resolve  complaints  of violation of the rules within 72 hours of being reported;
- (iv) To provide, upon receipt of an order from a lawfully authorised government agency, information  or  assistance  for  prevention,  detection,  investigation  or  prosecution under law.

In the context of rapid growth in online games, its significant contribution in the growth of the digital economy and lack of appropriate regulatory framework for online gaming space, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has prepared draft amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 and has initiated public consultation on the same on 2.1.2023.

To address concerns related to advertising, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued  an  advisory,  advising  the  print  and  electronic  media  to  refrain  from  publishing advertisements  of  online  betting  platforms,  and  online  and  social  media,  including  online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, not to display such advertisements in India or target such advertisements towards Indian audience. The Ministry has also issued an advisory to  all  private  satellite  television  channels  on  'Advertisements  on  Online  Games,  Fantasy Sports, etc.', advising all broadcasters that the guidelines issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) be complied with and that the advertisements broadcast on television adhere to the same.

(c) to (e): Information in this regard is not maintained with the Government.

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