Online gaming industry signs code of ethics for safer digital space

The online gaming industry has officially signed a voluntary ‘Code of Ethics for Online Gaming Industries’ during the Indian Gaming Convention (IGC) on Tuesday. This event was organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has formulated a voluntary Code of Ethics, which has been signed by the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, the E-Gaming Federation, and the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF). This code functions as a ‘Joint Declaration of Intent’ by the involved parties, expressing their commitment to establishing a secure, reliable, and accountable digital gaming industry.

“We at IAMAI are happy to have curated the Voluntary Code of Ethics for Online Gaming Intermediaries, which has been signed by four industry bodies representing the digital gaming sector in India. This is a progressive step towards building a transparent and accountable gaming ecosystem with a focus on consumer protection,” said Dr. Subho Ray, President, IAMAI.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and IT stated, “I would like to reiterate and reaffirm that the Government of India considers online gaming as an important part of our $1 Trillion Digital Economy Goal.”

“Our approach is to catalyse the startup and innovation ecosystem while ensuring the safety of gamers including children, and unambiguously prohibiting games promoting wagering, addiction and user harm,” he added.

The event featured discussions by industry leaders on public policy, regulatory frameworks, and the online gaming industry’s role in driving digital India’s growth.

Anuraag Saxena, CEO of EGF (E-Gaming Federation), said, “The year 2023 has been eventful for the sector, and the immediate imperative is the implementation of proposed IT rules by establishing the SRBs with regulatory oversight. We believe that these rules will play a crucial role in creating a safe and transparent gaming ecosystem while harnessing the potential of the sector for greater economic benefits.”

This development comes after the online gaming sector is grappling with the recent imposition of a 28 per cent GST mandated by the government, which took effect on October 1. Business Outlook India