YRG Gaming Charter

Youth For Responsible Gaming Charter

  1. Building a safe and welcoming space – requires gaming platforms to implement a set of controls and systems that form the foundation of a safe online environment.
  2. Prevention of juvenile gaming – Strictly enforcing the Minimum Age criteria for the Game which depends upon the kind of game’s storyline and gameplay
  3. Ensuring Privacy of players – By following all regulatory practices and implementing rigorous procedures (minimum storage and safeguarding of players private data, like players’ names, addresses, and phone numbers.)
  4. Gaming platforms should offer play limit options – Since gaming can be addictive or prove to be a hinderance to important things like education, health etc; it is expected that the gaming platform provides the option of limiting time spend on playing games and remind the players to take a break.
  5. Prevent harassment and cyberbullying – Multiplayer or even one-to-one games have the option of chatting. Social exchanges in such forums can lead to online harassment and cyberbullying of players. Gaming platforms must work to prevent such incidents.
  6. Fraud detection – Gaming platforms must place multiple layers of fraud checks to detect any unusual activities and protect the players against any potential fraud.
  7. Ensure identity – Some form of Identity detection procedures like e-KYCs must be introduced by the gaming platforms to ensure that the players are indeed those persons; who they say they are.
  8. Grievance redressal mechanism – A proper and robust grievance redressal mechanism must be in the gaming apparatus so that players are not duped and can raise genuine concerns wherever one arises.
  9. Ensuring fair play with no AI Bots – With the rise of AI and potential involvement of real money in the games, there is always a chance that dubious players will try to use AI to increase their gaming performance, Gaming platforms should ensure that their system can detect foul play and ban accounts for foul play.
  10. Transparency for users of gaming platforms – The gaming platforms must publish their gaming records, winning list and winning amount with proof of payment to ensure a level of transparency for all the users in their platform.
  11. A mechanism of Parental Control – The gaming platform should provide mediums of parental control which can provide options for parents to monitor the titles their wards are playing with an option to lock/unlock playing.
  12. Moral Gaming – The Game must not promote/glorify crime, narcotics or other immoral activities so as not to push youth of impressionable age towards committing crime.
  13. Provision of Financial loss limit – Since the game have a financial angle, there must be a provision to limit losses by the player and timely notifications must also be send by game developers to the players reminding about the same. Customer must also be provided with their wager histories.
  14. Self-exclusion facility – The players must be provided the option of taking short breaks and even long breaks to reduce chances of gaming turning to a addictive behaviour.
  15. Geo-restrictions on games (national safety) – The games must have a mechanism of checking Geo-location of the players to ensure that the players are safeguarded from unscrupulous characters and are not exposed to any propaganda which can put national safety in danger.
  16. Accountable and law-abiding game publishers and developers – The Game publisher and developers must abide by the law and be accountable for their titles. They must also work in synchrony with the government directives, collaborate with policy makers, academic experts, researchers, problem gaming treatment organisations, advocacy groups, and partners, alongside customers, to advance responsible gaming and tackle problem gaming.
  17. Assist Gaming individuals in making knowledgeable decisions regarding their gaming activities – The gaming platform should consider offering user-friendly guidelines on gameplay, as well as responsible gaming resources, such as instructions on how to access and utilise such tools. Additionally, supplementary information can also be furnished, such as a toll-free helpline and support resources, for individuals seeking assistance with gaming-related issues.
  18. Adhering to relevant standards of socially responsible advertising – It is imperative to adhere to the relevant standards of socially responsible advertising, which encompasses conformity with all pertinent state and federal regulations and norms. Additionally, it is crucial for gaming platforms to refrain from employing minors in marketing materials.
  19. Ensuring ethical business by Gaming platforms – Gaming platforms should recommended that patrons establish a budget that is within their financial means and refrain from exceeding it while engaging in gaming activities. It is also advised that gaming applications notify individuals not to perceive gaming as a viable avenue for achieving financial prosperity.
  20. Support funding for evidence-based problem and responsible gaming research – The gaming platforms should advocate for the allocation of financial resources towards research that is grounded in empirical evidence and focuses on addressing issues related to responsible gaming.
  21. Provide employees with responsible gaming training – It is recommended that all eligible personnel receive responsible gaming instruction upon commencement of employment and on a periodic basis thereafter, with the aim of instilling a culture of responsible gaming within the gaming platform organisation.