The rules for implementing the online gaming bill are almost ready and will be released soon, union electronics and information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday. The bill is now headed for President Droupadi Murmu’s assent. Justifying the decision to ban real-money gaming, Vaishnaw said the harm from it would have surpassed that caused by drugs. In an interview with ET, he also clarified that the proposed national authority will focus on promoting e-sports and social games. Edited excerpts:
Now that the bill has been passed in record time, what are the next steps for the government?
The bill is going to the President's office for her assent. We have been working on this for quite some time now. So, the rules are practically prepared and should be released soon. We are working fast on this.
When do these platforms stop functioning?
As soon as the law comes into force, the legal provisions will kick in.
What were the main reasons, compulsions, and representations that you received, which led the government to ban online money games?
We have seen the online gaming sector has become a very major part of the digital economy in recent years. This sector has three segments. Two of these – online social games and e-sports – are useful for society. The third, online money gaming, has seriously affected our middle class, our rural families, our youth and our students. There are so many cases of suicides, addiction, and psychological behaviour getting changed because of disorders caused by online money games. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has even classified this as a gaming disorder as a part of their International Classification of Diseases. Feedback was consistently coming from every part of the country, whether Congress or NDA-ruled states, that this is harmful for society, and that action needs to be taken.
Did the gaming industry not offer a way out during your consultations with them?
We had been engaged with the gaming industry for more than three years. Many attempts had been made to make them understand the harms to society and even a self-regulating body was proposed. They themselves were getting feedback from society. Unfortunately, it was not effective. The way the harm to society was growing, this would have become a much bigger national problem than the problem of drugs. That's why action had to be taken. When the choice is between saving society, and one segment of an industry, then it is very clear that we have to save society.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken many such strong steps in the past. When the chit fund scam caused a lot of harm to middle-class families, a very strong law was brought in. When the builders were not providing flats as promised despite having taken so many advances, strict action was taken, and the sector was brought under regulation. In this case, the PM focused on saving the affected middle classes, and youth. Saving them was the primary goal of this entire exercise. Parallelly, promoting the good parts of the game industry, game designing, and promoting the creators' economy are major parts of this bill.
What will be the mandate of the national authority proposed under the bill? Will it monitor game content and decide what is or isn't a legitimate game?
An authority will be created for taking the positive side of the gaming industry forward. It will be like the Sports Authority of India or the National Highways Authority of India. Its mandate will be more geared towards development and promotion. Its objective is not to monitor the content of online games.
Will there be schemes to absorb people who lose their jobs?
We have already established the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies where creative making is a big focus. Game developers will get many more opportunities. Game development is a combination of technology and creativity. They will get more opportunities in the e-sports and online social games segment. We will promote and enable that.
A major case regarding the sector is currently at the Supreme Court. Will that throw a spanner in the works?
I don't want to comment on whatever is sub-judice.
Now that the bill has been passed in record time, what are the next steps for the government?
The bill is going to the President's office for her assent. We have been working on this for quite some time now. So, the rules are practically prepared and should be released soon. We are working fast on this.
When do these platforms stop functioning?
As soon as the law comes into force, the legal provisions will kick in.
What were the main reasons, compulsions, and representations that you received, which led the government to ban online money games?
We have seen the online gaming sector has become a very major part of the digital economy in recent years. This sector has three segments. Two of these – online social games and e-sports – are useful for society. The third, online money gaming, has seriously affected our middle class, our rural families, our youth and our students. There are so many cases of suicides, addiction, and psychological behaviour getting changed because of disorders caused by online money games. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has even classified this as a gaming disorder as a part of their International Classification of Diseases. Feedback was consistently coming from every part of the country, whether Congress or NDA-ruled states, that this is harmful for society, and that action needs to be taken.
Did the gaming industry not offer a way out during your consultations with them?
We had been engaged with the gaming industry for more than three years. Many attempts had been made to make them understand the harms to society and even a self-regulating body was proposed. They themselves were getting feedback from society. Unfortunately, it was not effective. The way the harm to society was growing, this would have become a much bigger national problem than the problem of drugs. That's why action had to be taken. When the choice is between saving society, and one segment of an industry, then it is very clear that we have to save society.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken many such strong steps in the past. When the chit fund scam caused a lot of harm to middle-class families, a very strong law was brought in. When the builders were not providing flats as promised despite having taken so many advances, strict action was taken, and the sector was brought under regulation. In this case, the PM focused on saving the affected middle classes, and youth. Saving them was the primary goal of this entire exercise. Parallelly, promoting the good parts of the game industry, game designing, and promoting the creators' economy are major parts of this bill.
What will be the mandate of the national authority proposed under the bill? Will it monitor game content and decide what is or isn't a legitimate game?
An authority will be created for taking the positive side of the gaming industry forward. It will be like the Sports Authority of India or the National Highways Authority of India. Its mandate will be more geared towards development and promotion. Its objective is not to monitor the content of online games.
Will there be schemes to absorb people who lose their jobs?
We have already established the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies where creative making is a big focus. Game developers will get many more opportunities. Game development is a combination of technology and creativity. They will get more opportunities in the e-sports and online social games segment. We will promote and enable that.
A major case regarding the sector is currently at the Supreme Court. Will that throw a spanner in the works?
I don't want to comment on whatever is sub-judice.
