Indian and Offshore Gaming Sites Are in the Same Boat, Experts Remind

Over a year ago, India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting issued new guidelines on advertising standards related to online gaming. The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) claims any breaches of such directives are to be imputed to offshore operators but gaming experts disagree. Industry studies show that desi and foreign gaming platforms have a common interest to act in a regulated market.

Online Gaming Market Has No Boundaries, Needs Common Rules

Judging by the amount of ads and promotions we can see on TV, papers, websites and other media, the advisory on online gambling is evidently disregarded by a number of companies. Yet, the AIGF chief, Roland Landers, has recently spoken out against such behavior on behalf of offshore websites, calling them the only culprits on the scene.

What is more, the gaming exec attacked foreign competition as the easy target of fraud and tax evasion claims. The fact of the matter is that a safe and secure gaming market is the responsibility of all parties, from policy makers down to game providers and consumer groups.

Prominent gaming experts at SevenJackpots have pointed out the massive amount of advertisement that fantasy sports gambling buys on TV, social media and other digital and print outlets. A long list of celebrities invites young Indians to spend time and money on such games, with little or no regulation on advertisement or gaming contents targeting the players.

Mr. Landers’ raises a couple of other arguments against global gaming sites, with tax evasion a prime example. In reality, foreign gaming sites want to raise their legitimacy and reputation by paying taxes in India. Put simply, there is no regulation in place for them to do so, given that they are based abroad and accessed online. A proper gaming law would see such companies get registration and tax obligations on the Subcontinent.

Last but not least, claims of fraud and game manipulation cannot be further from the truth, market experts remind. Most offshore gambling sites operating in India have licenses issued by Gambling Commissions and authorities that impose strict requirements and verification procedures.

The risk of losing their global licenses because of fraud is inconceivable for some of the most reputable websites and mobile operators. On the contrary, Indian gaming companies are more or less unregulated when it comes to financial security, player support, responsible gambling policies or game mechanics.

Regulated Playing Field for All as the Only Way Forward

The fact that the AIGF urges lawmakers to adopt a regulatory framework for online games is a move in the right direction. Monitoring and control is in everyone’s interest, gaming experts observe, and it is easy to prove why India needs a national licensing system.

Besides the obvious risk of problem gambling, players would get a solid support mechanism, while all legitimate companies would stand out because of fair play and transparent policies. Quite importantly, we cannot ignore the economic potential of such a legal gaming market, which industry researcher Svilen Madjov estimates to provide up to ₹6,60,000 crore in annual tax revenues by 2025-2026. Currently, the Centre only collects “a fraction of that.”

Disclaimer : Above mentioned article is a brand desk content, This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of IDPL, and IDPL claims no responsibility whatsoever.