Online gambling regulations have been framed for India for the first time, reports Bloomberg News.
The country is keen to tidy up sections of betting that fall into a grey area between gambling and entertainment, said the media report.
India’s information technology ministry has published regulations to cover mobile phone apps and websites that might involve an exchange of users’ money, between online casinos and card schools and fantasy sports clubs.
This sets them apart from fun gaming titles such as Electronic Arts’ FIFA Soccer, which will be regulated by the sports ministry.
There has been a rapid escalation in online games as there has of India’s mobile phone population, leading to popular sites such as Dream 11 and Mobile Premier League.
However, consumers are complaining about the increase in the number of avenues for spending money, often from youngsters, and suggest that they are leading to gambling addiction.
The IT ministry has ruled that a new commission will oversee the industry, to include a federal government nominee and a chief compliance officer.
