Gaming
TORF extends support to online gaming regulation
NEW DELHI: With the Tamil Nadu government taking an increasingly hard line on online gambling, The Online Rummy Federation (TORF) has stated that it welcomes the move to regulate the sector. At the same time, it wants to ensure that any new regulation is not prohibitive and builds in protections for consumers and operations of legitimate operators.
The statement comes in the wake of additional advocate general Sricharan Rangarajan informing the Madurai Bench of the Madras high court that the state government was actively considering regulating the online skill gaming sector.
“The government is worried about the recent suicide reports related to online gaming. These recent events are of grave concern to TORF and its members. Over the last two years, TORF members have taken extraordinary and voluntary steps to self-regulate and give players the tools to play responsibly,” the federation said in a press note.
The key areas of consideration will include: KYC verification; minimum age; player protection requirements; mandatory responsible playing features like setting daily monthly limits, self-exclusion etc; advertising guidelines; no BOTS on sites; SSL level encryption; and other such requirements to ensure player experience is safe, fair and enables responsible gaming.
The federation added, “We strongly feel that the government should regulate this sector to ensure only legitimate, legal operators who follow strict protocols are allowed to operate and a clear distinction drawn from those who try and operate above the law. Tens of thousands of players from Tamil Nadu enjoy playing online rummy safely and responsibly. Effective regulation will let the vast majority of the players who play responsibly continue to enjoy the game, protect the players that are vulnerable, and lead to substantial additional revenues for the government.”
It also suggested that the government of Tamil Nadu should set up a committee to review, discuss and propose a regulatory framework for games of skill, similar to Nagaland and Sikkim. A discussion for a proposal to regulate this industry can address many concerns including the following key points: setting time and monetary limits for players on a daily/weekly/monthly basis; stronger KYC checks and social profiling of users to ensure that players are financially stable adults; strict advertising standards to promote gaming as entertainment and not a way to earn money; an annual license fee and a player support contribution to help vulnerable players.
“TORF is committed to providing its full support to the government in creating a safe and responsible gaming industry. We have already made an official representation to the chief minister to kindly consider regulating the sector as a win-win solution,” promised CEO Sameer Barde.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
