The All India Gaming Federation is the oldest not-for-profit organization and only apex Industry body whose skill game charter includes all online skill gaming in India, including Fantasy Sports, Online Poker, Rummy, Casual Gaming, E-games & Virtual gaming.

AIGF’s objective has always been to create awareness among the relevant stakeholders, about the socio-economic benefits of the online skill gaming industry through representations, research reports, surveys, events, and seminars.

AIGF is the online skill gaming Industry & knowledge partner to leading corporates as well as consulting firms that track this rising sector. AIGF’s Skill Games Charter aims at self-regulating all games of skill played online in pay-to-play formats, which is integral to maintain high standards of expertise and consumer protection in the skill gaming industry.

The self-regulatory body would establish an independent grievance redressal mechanism that will handle consumer/user complaints against uncertainty in foreign investors, spur foreign investment. AIGF’s Skill Games Charter promotes a self-regulating body that can also be a preferred mode of governance to ensure transparency, consumer protection, and accountability.

The charter is based on 4 pillars:

Integrity
With the exponential growth witnessed by the online gaming industry over the last 3 years, the need to strengthen the self-regulatory process is imperative. A self-regulating body is essential to keep the financial integrity in the industry. The charter is based on financial integrity that helps in maintaining records of all transactions on different platforms, internal controls, and financial accounting systems, implementing appropriate policies and procedures designed to minimize the risk of crimes such as money laundering, tax evasion, etc.

Legality
Despite the favorable growth, the online skill game industry has been held back substantially because of the lack of a regulatory mechanism. Many states across India have imposed a blanket ban on these games resulting in skill gaming platforms asking for clear-cut distinction & systemic regulation of the sector. Lack of regulation has resulted in missed opportunities with regards to taxes, business development, and people missing out on playing these skill games. Despite all this, neither the central government nor the state governments have introduced any laws & regulations that can exactly define the legality of these games. Skill games charter promotes transparent and uniform laws and regulations for the online gaming industry.

Global Best Practices
Over the years, the Indian gaming industry has been working to bring due attention to this sunrise sector. As an industry body, AIGF has been at the forefront of ensuring global best practices for its stakeholders through self-regulation and the Skill Games Charter, which covers all aspects of the online business process. AIGF’s self-regulatory mechanism needs to be recognized and strengthened for uniformity.

Good Governance
Currently, the gaming industry follows a self-regulatory model, which incorporates the necessary checks and balances to ensure sufficient responsible gaming and protection of gamers. Regulating this sunrise sector can boost investment trends in states, create jobs, and contribute economically.

Some of the initiatives that need to be considered are: instead of taking restrictive actions against online skill gaming, States should aim to collaborate positively with industry stakeholders to develop a regulatory model that is in the best interests of all parties involved. AIGF and its advisory panel of domain experts will be happy to assist in playing a consultative role with the relevant policy-makers for this.

The AIGF Skill Games Charters is based on these strong pillars and promotes terms of legality, transparency and disclosure, integrity, security, and responsible gaming and breach and consequences to its members. In addition to the general principles, the charter stands for reforms in this sector.

Credits: AIGF