India has been at the forefront of the rise of the online gaming industry. Online gaming has become a popular source of entertainment among young adults in the country, with some participating in games professionally. However, there is little publicly available information about online gamers in India.

The Central Government amended the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules 2021”) to include guidelines for online gaming intermediaries and to protect the interests of online gamers. With this backdrop, it is critical to understand the players’ perspectives in depth to design the functioning of the Self-Regulatory Bodies (“SRB” and create a user-first and safe gameplay environment. This research aims to analyse the status of the gaming industry and better understand relevant state and national legislation. Additionally, this study seeks to gather first-hand information that acknowledges the needs of both casual and professional gamers through interviews and questionnaires. The report aims to provide insights that enable responsible industry growth for the country’s citizens.