PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss urged Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday to speak with Governor RN Ravi and get his assent for the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022.

“Online gambling has turned into a killer. In the last one and half year, as many as 37 persons have committed suicide after losing their money in online gambling. Five persons have ended their lives in the last 15 days itself,” said Ramadoss as quoted by DT Next.

He also claimed that at least six people have committed suicide in the 16 days of the ordinance expiring. Ramadoss has been vocal about the harms of online gambling for some time now.

In a recent Tweet, Ramadoss said, “Due to the rampage of the deadly demon of online gambling, every day a life is lost in Tamil Nadu. A student named Vinod Kumar who was studying in an engineering college near Thirumangalam, Madurai committed suicide yesterday! Vinod Kumar is a tennis player. His family also supported him to fulfill his dreams. However, Vinod Kumar committed suicide after losing money due to his addiction to online gambling.”

“It is painful that the governor ignores the suicides without realizing it! The government should not think that the online gambling prohibition law has been passed and sent to the governor and the duty is done. Efforts to get the Governor’s approval should be intensified,” he added.

The ordinance that was made to prohibit online gambling expired on November 27 but the Bill is still to be approved by the Governor.

Due to the lapse of the ordinance, several of the ruling party members from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have also expressed their displeasure and accused the Governor for siding with the online gaming companies.

In recent developments, Governor Ravi also met with representatives of the E-gaming Federation. The details of the meeting have not been released but the Chief Executive Officer of EGF, Sameer Barde has stated that it was regarding the Bill.