India’s Online Gaming Authority, tasked with regulating online social and e-sports gaming, has released a downloadable registration form, yet applicants face uncertainty due to the absence of the promised online submission portal, raising concerns about the authority’s operational readiness.
- OGAI registration form released but submission portal is offline
- PROG Act mandates digital application via OGAI website
- No official alternative submission method clarified
What happened
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) published the application form for registering online social games and e-sports under the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI), established by the 2025 Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act. The form is accessible as a PDF on MeitY’s website, but the instructions mention submitting it through a designated OGAI portal that has not yet been launched or made publicly accessible.
Attempts to reach the demo OGAI portal, which briefly appeared over three months ago, lead to '403: Access Denied' errors. The PROG Act requires registrations to be submitted via a digital form on the authority's website or app, but neither the portal nor any alternative digital submission method is currently functional or clearly communicated.
Why it matters
The absence of a working application portal significantly hampers the ability of online gaming operators to comply with new regulatory requirements. The PROG Act aims to regulate and govern online games, including banning real-money games, but without an operable digital system for registration, affected companies cannot fulfill their legal obligations effectively.
This situation also reflects poorly on MeitY’s delivery of a fully operational 'digital office' for OGAI, highlighting a disconnect between regulatory announcements and practical implementation. The reliance on a fillable PDF form without clear submission guidelines is antiquated in today’s digital era, creating confusion and operational challenges for the sector.
What to watch next
Stakeholders should monitor announcements from MeitY or OGAI for the launch of the official submission portal or updated guidance on how to submit registration forms. Clarification on whether email submissions to the listed OGAI contact address will be accepted is also critical to avoid noncompliance.
In the meantime, gaming companies and legal advisors may consider keeping records of attempts to contact OGAI and submit forms, anticipating a fast-tracked finalization of submission processes. Observers should also watch for any regulatory updates or enforcement actions that may clarify expectations and deadlines under the PROG Act.