TN Cracks Down on Online Gaming with Stricter Registration Requirements

Tamil Nadu has taken steps to tighten its regulatory grip on online gaming companies. The state's home department has introduced a new registration form for online gaming companies, which includes asking them to explain game mechanics, payment systems, and user protection measures.

The revised registration form requires applicants to disclose whether their games use artificial intelligence, bots, or random-number generators. They must also specify the category, platform, age restriction, and subscription model for each game. Additionally, they need to disclose banking or cryptocurrency payment modes and explain their authentication systems.

Operators are required to provide server locations, website addresses, and app-store account details. This is aimed at helping regulators trace where games are hosted and who controls their distribution. The new form also seeks daily, weekly, or monthly monetary limits for operators, as well as playing-hour restrictions, health alerts, and self-exclusion facilities.

A child psychologist welcomed the move, stating that recreational gaming should remain within one to two hours a day for schoolchildren. Platforms should warn users and parents after an hour and enforce breaks, as continuous sessions can affect sleep, physical activity, and concentration.