Opinion Trading platform is betting and gambling: MC Sarangan of TNOGA at Storyboard18 DES 2025
Speaking at Storyboard18's Digital Entertainment Summit (DES) 2025, MC Sarangan, Member, Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority highlighted, "“We had to define our own mandate and boundaries. We’ve faced legal challenges and continue to, but TNOGA has delivered on what it was created to do."
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In a special address that underscored how Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority's (TNOGA) goal isn’t to demonize gaming but to address compulsive usage, MC Sarangan, Member, Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority said "Regulation should never be seen as anti-innovation. It is meant to supplement and support responsible development. Tamil Nadu is the first Indian state to take this kind of step. In fact, it is a blueprint for the entire nation."
Speaking at Storyboard18's Digital Entertainment Summit (DES) 2025, he explained that the TNOGA was built from scratch, with no existing model to follow. “We had to define our own mandate and boundaries. We’ve faced legal challenges and continue to, but TNOGA has delivered on what it was created to do,” Sarangan said.
The authority is actively cracking down on illegal offshore betting platforms and surrogate advertisements. “Even now, we are actively cracking down on ads published by offshore betting companies, including surrogate advertisements. I don’t think any other authority has done that yet,” he added.
TNOGA didn’t emerge overnight. Its creation followed years of concern over social harm, failed regulatory options under the Police Act, and mounting public pressure. Eventually, the Tamil Nadu government enacted the Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, under which TNOGA was established.
“The authority includes a wide range of professionals—I'm a former IPS officer, we have an IAS officer as Chairperson, and we also have psychologists, technologists, and industry experts. Our primary function is enforcement, while regulation comes second and is always discussed with industry stakeholders,” Sarangan said.
“Our top priority is offshore betting apps—they’re aggressively targeting India’s youth. We’ve taken substantial action against them,” Sarangan said. At the same time, TNOGA facilitates legitimate operations. “We register gaming companies not to control them, but to document basic details. We don’t micromanage or send inspectors.”
TNOGA also acts on public complaints, many of which would otherwise go unnoticed, and keeps a close watch on illegal betting promotions and advertisements.
Focusing on Responsible Gaming
Sarangan emphasized that TNOGA’s goal isn’t to demonize gaming but to address compulsive usage. “The problem isn’t gaming. It’s excessive and compulsive gaming. We promote responsible gaming, and every action we take is based on research,” he said.
To that end, TNOGA conducted an unprecedented study involving 147,000 students and 17,000 teachers across Tamil Nadu to assess behavior related to online gaming.
“Video and casual games are too widespread to regulate in isolation. The real key is awareness—especially among parents and educators,” Sarangan noted.
He shared that TNOGA has sanctioned and executed wide-ranging awareness campaigns targeting schools, colleges, teachers, parents, and even law enforcement. The authority also engages students through essay competitions focused on solutions to gaming addiction. “This helps us understand young minds before designing any strategy.”
“The pace at which gaming spreads is much faster than any campaign can catch up to. But we’ve started seeing results—some gaming companies are now contributing to awareness campaigns. They’re warning users themselves about the risks of excessive play,” Sarangan said.
Parental Control and School-Level Intervention
Unsupervised gaming among children remains a major concern. “Gaming, when used for entertainment or cognitive development, is valuable. But the moment it becomes compulsive, it becomes a problem. And there’s no measuring cup to know when that line is crossed,” Sarangan explained.
He noted that while platforms like Google have tools like parental controls and anti-age gating, many parents are unaware—or unable to enforce them due to pressure from their children.
“It’s not just about regulation. We must educate parents and teachers. Gaming addiction needs to be tackled early,” he added.
Sarangan also pointed to ‘Manam’, a Tamil Nadu government initiative focused on digital and emotional literacy, and referenced national efforts like Tele-MANAS and NIMHANS’s parent-focused programs for managing internet and screen addiction.
A Broader Fight Against Online Betting
According to Sarangan, Tamil Nadu is leading the charge against a massive, disguised betting industry.
“These offshore betting companies aren’t just targeting Tamil Nadu. They’re after the entire country because of our population, growing mobility, and rising disposable income. They’re especially aggressive in the South,” he said.
He warned that not only students, but also low-income earners are falling prey to these apps. “People who earn ₹500 to ₹1,000 a day are getting pulled in.”
Many of these platforms operate under the guise of ‘opinion trading’, which Sarangan called “nothing but betting in disguise.” TNOGA has taken action against several such companies. “We’ve gone after surrogate advertising too. I don’t think anyone else in the country has done that,” he said.
“We can’t fight this alone,” Sarangan concluded. “I ask you all—how many of you are even aware of the surrogate ads run by foreign betting companies? How many of you are endorsing them unknowingly? This is a collective fight. Everyone: regulators, companies, media, and parents need to join in.”
