The Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) issued an advisory on July 29, 2026, directing OTT platforms, app stores, social media intermediaries, telecom providers, banks, and other entities to cease offering, facilitating, advertising, or financially enabling online money gaming (RMG) services. The advisory cites Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, mandating immediate compliance to suspend non-compliant activities, according to medianama.com.
Signed by T. Santhosh, Secretary of OGAI, the advisory calls on all entities involved in the online money gaming ecosystem to review their policies and implement compliance mechanisms. It specifically targets application stores, cloud service providers, telecom and internet service providers, financial institutions, OTT platforms, advertising agencies, and social media intermediaries. The advisory warns these entities could face liability under the PROG Act if they continue to aid or facilitate online money gaming services.
The advisory is significant as it enforces the PROG Act’s provisions that prohibit offering or aiding online money gaming, which carries penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment. This move aligns with the government’s broader efforts to regulate the online gaming sector and curb illegal gambling activities. By involving a wide range of intermediaries, the advisory aims to clamp down on the entire ecosystem that supports real-money gaming, setting a precedent for stricter enforcement.
The advisory instructs entities to restrict access to prohibited gaming applications, halt hosting such services, prevent related financial transactions, and discontinue advertisements promoting online money games. The PROG Act’s enforcement through this advisory marks a key regulatory step, with OGAI overseeing compliance and potential penalties for violations under Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the Act.