India’s TN High Court declines to intervene in notices to online gaming firms
India’s Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu has declined to intervene in show-cause notices issued by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) to real money gaming platforms. These notices address alleged violations of the state’s rules, which include mandatory Aadhaar-based player verification and a ban on gameplay between midnight and 5am.
Court: no stay, so action can continue
A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice K Rajasekar made the ruling on Friday while hearing pleas from online gaming platforms. The companies argued that the notices were premature since the legality of the restrictions is still under court review.
However, the court pointed out that no interim stay has been granted against the state’s actions. Therefore, there is no legal barrier preventing the gaming authority from moving forward with enforcement. As a result, the court refused to interfere with the show-cause notices.
Aadhaar verification defended by state
Defending the state’s decision, Tamil Nadu Advocate-General P S Raman explained why Aadhaar was chosen as the mandatory identity verification method for real money gaming platforms.
He said Aadhaar provides a secure two-step verification system. Users are required to submit a copy of their Aadhaar card and confirm it through a one-time password (OTP) sent to their registered mobile number.
In contrast, other ID options like passports and driving licences offer only one-step verification. Raman argued that these alternatives could be easily misused by minors using their parents’ documents. With Aadhaar, this is not possible without access to the registered mobile number, he said.
State can set age and time limits, court has ruled
The Advocate-General also referred to a previous ruling by the first bench of the Madras High Court. That decision upheld the state government’s authority to regulate age, time, and spending limits for playing real money online games.
The midnight-to-5am ban on gameplay, currently being challenged by gaming platforms, is part of these broader regulatory powers aimed at protecting players—especially minors—from addiction and financial risks.
What’s next for online gaming
While the legal challenge to the restrictions continues, the court’s latest decision means TNOGA is free to proceed with its show-cause notices. Platforms operating in Tamil Nadu will have to respond to the authority or risk further regulatory action.
