Online Gaming CoE

New Code of Ethics For Fantasy/Real-Money Gaming: Key Highlights

New Code Of Ethics In India’s Fantasy Gaming Industry

The fantasy gaming industry in India has reached a significant milestone with the introduction of a Code of Ethics (CoE), signaling a move towards more responsible and accountable practices. This set of guidelines prioritises user safety, fairness, and compliance with regulatory standards. Developed through a collaborative effort by key industry organisations—such as the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), and the E-Gaming Federation (EGF)—the CoE aims to foster a gaming environment that is both ethical and secure. The goal is to ensure that gaming practices in India are fair, responsible, and aligned with the highest standards of integrity.

Why Is A Code Of Ethics Important For Fantasy Gaming In India?

As the gaming industry in India grows, it faces an increasing need to establish standardised regulations. The adoption of a Code of Ethics helps address several concerns related to fraud, addiction, underage gaming, and fair play. By setting clear guidelines, this code aims to foster trust in the industry and ensure the long-term sustainability of online fantasy sports platforms. The Code also sets the foundation for future regulation, helping avoid potential legal hurdles and aligning with international best practices.

Key Guidelines Of India’s Code Of Ethics For Responsible Gaming

Age Verification And Kyc For Fantasy Gaming Platforms

One of the core elements of the Code of Ethics is the strict enforcement of age verification and KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures. All fantasy gaming platforms must verify the identity and age of users before they can participate in real-money gaming. This is achieved through the submission of official documents like government-issued IDs (e.g., Aadhaar, passport, or driver’s licence). Age restrictions are essential for preventing underage gambling, a rapidly growing concern in the sector.

Talk to sales - AuthBridge

User Spending Limits To Encourage Responsible Gambling

In a move that prioritises financial responsibility, the Code of Ethics mandates the implementation of user-defined spending limits on gaming platforms. These limits help players control their spending habits and avoid excessive gambling. Platforms will now be required to allow users to set daily, weekly, or monthly spending caps to ensure that players do not risk more money than they can afford to lose.

Enforcing Ethical Practices Through Audits And Annual Compliance

To ensure that platforms are adhering to the new standards, the Code of Ethics introduces the requirement for regular third-party audits. These audits will help assess the compliance of platforms with key ethical standards such as KYC processes, age verification, and spending limits. Platforms with significant revenues will need to comply with these audits within six months, ensuring that both large and small operators are held accountable for maintaining ethical standards in the industry.

Advertising Standards And Transparency In Fantasy Gaming

The Code of Ethics also aims to tackle misleading advertising, an area that has come under scrutiny in the past. Advertising standards are now clearly defined, ensuring that promotions for gaming platforms are not deceptive or misleading. All ads must highlight the risks associated with fantasy gaming and ensure that they do not create unrealistic expectations. This will help to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable players and encourage responsible marketing within the sector.

Protecting Players With Self-Exclusion And Support Tools

In order to protect vulnerable users, the Code includes provisions for self-exclusion. This allows players who feel that their gaming habits are becoming problematic to voluntarily exclude themselves from platforms for a set period. Along with this, platforms must introduce support tools and responsible gaming features to detect at-risk behaviour and offer assistance to players who may be struggling with gambling addiction.

Conclusion

As the gaming sector continues to evolve, the Code of Ethics lays the groundwork for a responsible and sustainable future. By adhering to these ethical guidelines, platforms can foster a culture of fairness, transparency, and player protection. With industry bodies working together to ensure compliance, the new ethical standards are set to help India’s gaming industry thrive while safeguarding its players.

Customer Onboarding in Gaming Industry

Customer Onboarding In Online/Real-Money Gaming: Challenges & Best Practices

The real money gaming industry in India is seeing millions of players signing up to try their luck in online casinos, poker, rummy, fantasy sports, and other gaming platforms. With the Indian gaming market projected to hit $ 9.2 billion by FY29 according to a report, this fast growth comes with the challenge of ensuring that only genuine players enter the system while keeping fraudsters out.

A smooth and secure onboarding process is the first step in building trust between a gaming platform and its players. But it’s not just about making sign-ups easy—it’s also about adhering to the strict laws around identity verification, preventing fraud, and ensuring responsible gaming. If the onboarding process is too complicated, players may leave before even making their first deposit. On the other hand, if security checks are weak, platforms risk financial fraud, money laundering, and legal troubles.

Challenges In Customer Onboarding For Real Money Gaming Platforms

Customer onboarding in real money gaming is not as simple as just signing up with an email and password. Companies need to ensure that every new player is genuine, meets legal requirements, and is not a fraudster trying to exploit the system. This is where the real challenges begin.

1. Balancing Security with a Smooth User Experience

One of the biggest challenges in onboarding is ensuring security without making the process frustrating for players. Players may abandon the platform before completing registration if the KYC process is too lengthy or requires too many documents. On the other hand, if onboarding is too easy with minimal checks, fraudsters and underage players may slip through.

2. Preventing Fraud and Identity Theft

Real-money gaming platforms attract fraudsters who try to create multiple accounts using fake or stolen identities. This can lead to bonus abuse, match-fixing, money laundering, and other illegal activities. If a gaming company fails to detect fraudulent accounts early, it can suffer significant financial losses and reputational damage.

3. Meeting Regulatory Compliance

Gaming laws in India are changing continuously, and companies must follow strict KYC and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidelines to operate legally. Different states have different gaming regulations, and platforms must ensure that only players from legally allowed regions are onboarded. Failure to comply can result in heavy fines or even platform shutdowns.

4. Handling High Drop-Off Rates During Onboarding

A slow or complicated onboarding process often leads to high drop-off rates, meaning potential players leave before completing their registration. Players expect a fast and hassle-free experience, and any delays—such as slow document verification or multiple authentication steps—can frustrate them and push them toward competitors with smoother onboarding.

5. Verifying Players from Diverse Demographics

Real-money gaming attracts players from all backgrounds—students, professionals, casual gamers, and even high-net-worth individuals. Some may not have traditional documents like PAN cards or Aadhaar readily available, making verification tricky. Gaming platforms must cater to all demographics while maintaining strong KYC standards.

The Role Of KYC In Online Gaming Onboarding

Know Your Customer (KYC) is the pillar of a secure and compliant onboarding process in real money gaming. It helps gaming platforms verify the identity of players, prevent fraudulent activities, and comply with legal regulations. Without a strong KYC process, platforms risk losing credibility, facing financial fraud, and violating gaming laws.

Why Is KYC Important for Online Gaming?

  1. Prevents Fraud and Identity Theft
    KYC helps ensure that every player signing up is who they claim to be. Fraudsters often use fake IDs, and stolen credentials, or create multiple accounts to exploit bonuses or launder money. By verifying player identities during onboarding, platforms can block suspicious accounts early.
  2. Ensures Compliance with Indian Gaming Regulations
    Real-money gaming platforms must comply with regulatory requirements, such as verifying a player’s age, identity, and location. KYC ensures that only players who meet the legal gaming age and reside in allowed states can access the platform, helping companies avoid regulatory penalties.
  3. Reduces Chargebacks and Payment Fraud
    Without proper KYC, fraudsters can use stolen credit cards or fake payment details to deposit money and later dispute transactions, leading to chargebacks. Strong identity verification prevents such fraudulent financial activities, saving gaming companies from revenue losses.
  4. Promotes Responsible Gaming
    Responsible gaming is a major concern in the industry. Many platforms must track player activity to prevent gambling addiction and underage gaming. KYC enables platforms to verify players’ ages and implement safeguards like deposit limits for minors or high-risk individuals.
  5. Builds Trust and Credibility
    Players feel more secure when they know that a platform follows proper KYC checks. It assures them that they are playing in a fair and well-regulated environment, increasing their trust in the platform.

How KYC Works In Online Gaming Onboarding

A standard KYC process involves:

  • Identity Verification – Players submit a government-issued ID (like Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport) for verification.
  • Address Verification – Some platforms require proof of address, like a utility bill, to ensure the player is from an allowed jurisdiction.
  • Age Verification – The system verifies that the player meets the legal age requirement for real-money gaming.
  • AML Screening – Players are checked against anti-money laundering databases to ensure they are not involved in financial crimes.
  • Face Match and Liveness Detection – Some platforms use biometric verification to confirm that the ID matches the player’s real face.

By integrating an automated KYC solution, gaming platforms can streamline these steps, reducing onboarding time from hours to just a few minutes while maintaining security and compliance.

Best Practices For A Smooth And Secure Onboarding Process

A well-designed onboarding process can make a significant difference in player retention, security, and compliance. If it’s too slow or complicated, players may abandon the platform before they even start playing. If it’s too lenient, fraudsters can exploit loopholes. Here are some best practices that real money gaming platforms should follow to create a seamless yet secure onboarding experience.

1. Automate KYC Verification for Speed and Accuracy

Manual verification is slow and prone to errors. Using an automated KYC solution speeds up the process by instantly verifying identity documents, conducting face matches, and checking for fraud risks. Players can complete registration in minutes instead of hours or days, improving their experience.

2. Enable a Frictionless User Journey

While security is critical, the onboarding process must be designed to feel effortless for players. Requesting only the essential information, providing real-time guidance on document uploads, and allowing for smooth mobile verification can reduce drop-offs. Multi-step onboarding, where KYC checks are triggered based on player activity (such as deposits above a certain amount), can also help strike a balance between security and ease of use.

3. Use AI-Powered Fraud Detection

AI-driven verification tools can detect suspicious patterns, such as multiple accounts created with slight variations of the same identity. Advanced fraud detection systems can flag high-risk players in real-time, preventing money laundering, bonus abuse, and account takeovers.

4. Comply with Local Regulations and Player Protection Laws

Gaming laws in India vary by state, and platforms must ensure that only players from legally permitted states can register. Geolocation verification, age checks, and AML screening are crucial for compliance. Gaming platforms must also stay updated with evolving laws to avoid legal troubles.

5. Implement Biometric and Liveness Verification

To prevent identity theft and fake accounts, platforms can use biometric checks like face match and liveness detection. This ensures that the player using the account is the same person who submitted the KYC documents, reducing impersonation fraud.

6. Offer Multiple Verification Options

Different players prefer different verification methods. Some may find document uploads inconvenient, while others may prefer Aadhaar-based e-KYC or OTP-based verification. Providing multiple ways to complete KYC can make onboarding smoother for a broader audience.

7. Educate Players on Why KYC Is Required

Some players may hesitate to share their personal documents due to privacy concerns. Clear communication about why KYC is necessary and how their data is protected can increase willingness to complete the process. Offering incentives, like small sign-up bonuses after successful verification, can also encourage compliance.

How Can AuthBridge Help Gaming Platforms with Seamless Onboarding

Real-money gaming platforms face the constant challenge of balancing security, compliance, and user experience. A slow or complicated onboarding process can drive players away, while weak verification measures can expose the platform to fraud and regulatory risks. This is where AuthBridge comes in, offering a seamless and automated solution to onboard players securely and quickly.

1. Instant Digital KYC for Fast and Hassle-Free Verification

AuthBridge’s AI-powered digital KYC solutions verify player identities in real-time, reducing onboarding time from hours to just a few minutes. By integrating Aadhaar-based e-KYC, PAN verification, and document OCR technology, gaming platforms can ensure compliance while delivering a smooth sign-up experience.

2. Advanced Fraud Detection and Risk Profiling

Gaming fraud is a major concern, from identity theft to multi-accounting and bonus abuse. AuthBridge’s AI-driven fraud detection scans for red flags, such as duplicate profiles, mismatched credentials, and suspicious transaction patterns, helping platforms block fraudulent users before they enter the system.

3. Face Match and Liveness Detection for Identity Protection

With increasing cases of identity fraud, ensuring that the person registering is the same as the one on the submitted ID is critical. AuthBridge’s Face Match and Liveness Detection technology prevents impersonation fraud by verifying the player’s real-time selfie against their official documents.

4. Location and Age Verification for Regulatory Compliance

Gaming laws in India vary by state, making geolocation-based verification essential for restricting access in legally restricted areas. Additionally, age verification ensures that only players who meet the legal age requirement can participate in real-money gaming. AuthBridge’s automated systems help gaming platforms comply with these regulations effortlessly.

5. AML Screening to Prevent Money Laundering

Money laundering is a serious risk in online gaming. AuthBridge provides AML screening and cross-checks player details against global watchlists, sanction lists, and politically exposed persons (PEP) databases. This ensures that gaming companies do not unknowingly onboard high-risk individuals.

6. Seamless API Integration for a Frictionless User Experience

AuthBridge’s plug-and-play APIs allow gaming platforms to integrate verification solutions directly into their apps and websites without disrupting the user journey. The process is mobile-first, ensuring smooth onboarding on any device, whether desktop or smartphone.

By leveraging AuthBridge’s end-to-end onboarding solutions, gaming companies can:

  • Reduce drop-offs with a smooth, hassle-free KYC process
  • Enhance security by blocking fraudulent users before they enter the platform
  • Stay compliant with evolving Indian gaming laws and global AML standards
  • Build player trust through fast, transparent, and reliable verification

AuthBridge enables gaming platforms to onboard players securely, boost retention, and stay ahead in a competitive industry—all while ensuring full regulatory compliance.

KYB in gaming industry importance

Why KYC Matters In The Gaming Industry

The real money gaming industry is at an important junction. With markets expanding and regulatory frameworks tightening, the operational complexities of managing compliance have multiplied. While Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines are well-established to verify individual players, businesses in this sector are now facing equal pressure for Know Your Business (KYB) processes to ensure trust and compliance within their partner networks.

For gaming platforms, especially those relying on affiliates and vendors to drive user acquisition and monetisation, KYB offers an amazing solution to verify the legitimacy and integrity of their business partners. This process isn’t just about meeting regulatory demands; it’s about safeguarding operations against risks like fraud, money laundering, and reputational damage. The gaming ecosystem, where stakes are high and transactions are instantaneous, calls for streamlined KYB protocols that blend efficiency with thoroughness.

The Need For KYB In The Gaming Industry

The online gaming industry operates within an ecosystem where multiple entities—affiliates, payment processors, marketing partners, and vendors—converge to deliver seamless user experiences. However, this ecosystem’s reliance on external partnerships exposes gaming platforms to significant risks. Fraudulent affiliates, unverified vendors, and entities engaging in money laundering can tarnish a brand’s reputation, invite regulatory penalties, and remove player trust.

Why Is KYB Essential in Gaming?

Unlike KYC, which focuses on individual players, KYB targets businesses interacting with the platform. This is particularly relevant in real money gaming, where affiliate marketing drives a substantial portion of user acquisition. Affiliates often function independently, making it challenging for platforms to assess their ethical and operational integrity without comprehensive verification protocols. KYB helps to:

  1. Detect Fraudulent Affiliates
    Fraudulent businesses can employ tactics like multi-accounting or unauthorised promotions, which not only violate compliance standards but also harm legitimate operators. KYB ensures that affiliates are genuine entities with verifiable business credentials.
  2. Prevent Money Laundering
    Regulators are increasingly scrutinising online platforms for anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. KYB helps mitigate risks by evaluating the financial standing and transactional behaviour of business partners.
  3. Maintain Regulatory Compliance
    Countries like India, operating under laws such as the DPDP Act, require gaming platforms to conduct exhaustive due diligence on their business affiliates. Failure to meet these requirements can lead to hefty penalties and business disruptions.
  4. Foster Trust and Transparency
    A verified partner network ensures smooth collaboration, enhances reputational credibility and builds long-term trust with stakeholders.

The Scope of KYB in Real Money Gaming

KYB comprises more than just verifying a partner’s business registration. It delves into assessing their legal standing, ownership structures, financial records, and even their adherence to ethical standards. This depth of analysis enables gaming platforms to build a robust, transparent ecosystem aligned with compliance mandates.

Challenges In Implementing KYB For Gaming Platforms

While the benefits of KYB in the gaming industry are evident, implementing these processes comes with its own set of challenges. Gaming platforms, especially those in the real money gaming sector, operate in a highly fluid environment with rapid partner onboarding, high transaction volumes, and evolving regulatory frameworks. These factors can make robust KYB implementation a complex and resource-intensive endeavour.

  • Fragmented Regulatory Conditions

The gaming industry often operates across multiple jurisdictions, each with its own set of compliance requirements. For instance, in India, businesses must adhere to anti-money laundering regulations alongside the DPDP Act, while in other regions, GDPR or equivalent data protection laws apply. This diversity necessitates a KYB framework capable of accommodating region-specific compliance requirements without creating bottlenecks.

  • Limited Transparency Among Affiliates

Many affiliates operate as small businesses or even individuals, making it difficult to access verifiable information about their operations. Traditional verification methods may not be sufficient for smaller entities lacking a robust digital or financial footprint.

  • Time-Consuming Processes

Manual KYB checks, involving document verification, ownership vetting, and financial assessments, can delay partner onboarding. This is a critical concern for gaming platforms reliant on rapid growth through affiliate and vendor networks.

  • Emerging Threats Like Synthetic/Forged Identities

Advanced fraud methods, such as synthetic identities or shell companies, complicate the process of distinguishing legitimate entities from fraudulent ones. Without cutting-edge verification tools, these threats can slip through traditional checks.

  • Cost Implications

Developing and maintaining in-house KYB solutions can be prohibitively expensive, particularly for mid-sized platforms. Outsourcing such operations to third-party providers adds another layer of cost considerations, albeit with operational efficiencies.

  • Balancing Compliance With User Experience

A cumbersome KYB process can discourage affiliates and partners from engaging with the platform. Striking the right balance between thorough due diligence and a smooth onboarding experience is a persistent challenge for gaming operators.

How Technology Streamlines KYB For Gaming Businesses

The complexities of implementing KYB in the gaming industry underscore the need for technology-driven solutions. Advanced tools and platforms are now pivotal in enabling gaming businesses to conduct thorough due diligence while maintaining efficiency and scalability. These technologies not only automate cumbersome manual processes but also provide actionable insights that improve decision-making.

  • Automated Business Verification

Technology platforms like API-driven KYB solutions allow gaming operators to instantly verify a partner’s legitimacy by accessing global business registries. These systems can validate company registration numbers, tax identification details, and financial standings in real time, eliminating the delays associated with manual verification.

  • Enhanced Risk Scoring and Monitoring

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming KYB by providing dynamic risk-scoring capabilities. These algorithms analyse data points such as ownership patterns, transaction behaviours, and historical compliance records to assess the credibility of affiliates and vendors. Continuous monitoring ensures that gaming platforms remain compliant even after onboarding.

  • Biometric Verification for Key Individuals

KYB solutions are increasingly integrating biometric technologies to verify the identities of key individuals within partner organisations. These tools cross-reference biometric data with government records, ensuring the authenticity of stakeholders and preventing the use of synthetic identities.

  • Real-Time Financial Health Checks

Advanced KYB systems leverage integrations with financial databases to evaluate the financial stability of partners. Tools such as bank account verification, credit assessments, and transaction pattern analysis ensure affiliates and vendors are solvent and compliant with anti-money laundering (AML) standards.

  • Streamlined Workflow Through Integration

Modern KYB platforms offer seamless integration with existing gaming management systems via APIs. This enables operators to consolidate verification processes into their existing workflows, reducing operational friction and maintaining consistency across departments.

How AuthBridge Drives KYB Efficiency?

AuthBridge leverages cutting-edge technologies to empower gaming platforms with comprehensive KYB solutions. By automating the verification of affiliates, vendors, and partners, AuthBridge ensures that gaming businesses can navigate the complexities of compliance with ease. Its suite of solutions integrates seamlessly into business workflows, offering fast, reliable, and cost-effective verification processes tailored for the dynamic gaming ecosystem.

Conclusion

The gaming industry’s evolution into a highly competitive and regulated space has made Know Your Business (KYB) a cornerstone of sustainable growth. For platforms operating in the real money gaming sector, KYB is not merely a compliance requirement but a strategic imperative to foster trust, ensure operational integrity, and mitigate risks. By embracing technology-driven KYB solutions, gaming businesses can streamline affiliate and vendor verification processes, navigate regulatory landscapes with confidence, and establish a strong foundation for long-term success.

As gaming platforms scale and diversify, the need for robust partner networks is more critical than ever. Advanced KYB solutions, such as those offered by AuthBridge, empower businesses to go beyond basic verification and achieve comprehensive compliance effortlessly. With features like automated business verification, real-time financial health checks, and AI-powered risk assessments, AuthBridge provides a one-stop solution for gaming companies looking to stay ahead in a competitive market.

FAQs

KYB (Know Your Business) refers to the process of verifying the identity, legitimacy, and financial integrity of a business entity. It is a regulatory requirement for companies, particularly in financial services, to prevent fraud, money laundering, and other illicit activities.

A KYB (Know Your Business) strategy ensures compliance with regulatory requirements by verifying the identity and legitimacy of businesses through checks like ownership details, financial records, and legal documentation. It aims to mitigate risks of fraud, money laundering, and other illicit activities.

The function of Know Your Business (KYB) is to verify the identity, legitimacy, and compliance of businesses by assessing their ownership, operations, and regulatory adherence. This ensures trust, reduces fraud, and meets legal obligations for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF).

KYB (Know Your Business) is required by financial institutions, fintechs, and businesses to verify and monitor vendors, partners, or corporate clients, ensuring compliance with AML/CFT laws and mitigating fraud and regulatory risks.

The purpose of Know Your Business (KYB) is to verify the legitimacy, ownership, and operations of businesses to prevent fraud, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and mitigate risks related to financial crimes like money laundering and terrorism financing.

KYB (Know Your Business) ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, mitigates risks of fraud and financial crimes, and enhances trust by verifying the legitimacy and ownership structure of businesses. It streamlines onboarding while safeguarding against reputational and financial risks.

Hi! Let’s Schedule Your Call.

To begin, Tell us a bit about “yourself”

The most noteworthy aspects of our collaboration has been the ability to seamlessly onboard partners from all corners of India, for which our TAT has been reduced from multiple weeks to a few hours now.

- Mr. Satyasiva Sundar Ruutray
Vice President, F&A Commercial,
Greenlam

Thank You

We have sent your download in your email.

Case Study Download

Want to Verify More Tin Numbers?

Want to Verify More Pan Numbers?

Want to Verify More UAN Numbers?

Want to Verify More Pan Dob ?

Want to Verify More Aadhar Numbers?

Want to Check More Udyam Registration/Reference Numbers?

Want to Verify More GST Numbers?