AIADMK interim general secretary and former CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday alleged that the State government had joined hands with online gaming service providers, and hence, it was delaying the imposition of a ban on online rummy.

The Tamil Nadu Government on Sunday sought public views on the proposed gaming ban with last date as August 12 for public consultations.

Addressing party cadre at Perundurai in Erode, he said many people had lost money and ended their lives due to online rummy. “The AIADMK enacted legislation imposing a ban on online games, after which private companies offering online games moved the court. But the DMK joined hands with them and did not present correct data in the court,” he claimed according to a report on The Hindu.

He alleged that the ruling party received money from these companies. In June, he raised doubts if the formation of a study committee (Justice Chandru Committee) is intended to delay the new law.

Instead of imposing a ban on online rummy, the government sought inputs from stakeholders to ‘regulate’ such games. “They are not thinking about people; they are thinking about their family,” he said according to reports.

The report of the Justice K. Chandru Committee on gambling and it’s affects submitted on June 27, has highlighted how gambling addiction could impact human lives — at the individual, family and societal levels.

Recently, the self regulatory gaming body AIGF has urged the Tamil Nadu governor to not approve the proposed ordinance. AIGF said a complete prohibition or ban on online skill-based games has been held to be arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional by the Hon’ble Madras High Court in a judgment of a division bench of the court dated 3rd August, 2021 in Junglee Games India Private Limited v. State of Tamil Nadu & Others.