India, April 23 -- The country is seeing a shift in its gaming industry toward regulation; beginning May 1, 2026, the government introduced new regulations to define the various types of gaming (non-cash reward gaming, such as Esports or social gaming, vs. cash reward gaming), which is what the industry has been seeking. This has far-reaching implications for the entire gaming ecosystem, including the classification of titles, how platforms will operate, and the responsibility of banks, regulators, and users in relation to gaming.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026, which were brought in under the PROG Act, 2025, set out a clear test to decide if a game is one that's allowed to operate online or something that's a n...