PMK president and Rajya Sabha member Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday sought a clarification from the state government on the status of the proposed ordinance to ban online rummy in the state.
The Tamil Nadu cabinet on 27 June reportedly discussed on banning gaming for stakes through an ordinance. However, there has been no update on the issue since then. Expressing disappointment at the government delaying the promulgation of the ordinance even 12 days after the expert committee tabled its report on the same, Anbumani said, “Tamil Nadu government has admitted to all the evils of online rummy. It should not give room for any second thought or hesitation on the issue now.”
Claiming that online rummy is responsible for several suicides, Anbumani recalled the assurance made by Chief Minister MK Stalin on the day he had led an agitation in Chennai demanding an immediate ban on online rummy, and wondered, “Did the cabinet meeting approve an ordinance to ban online gambing? If yes, was the ordinance sent for Governor’s assent? If it was not approved by the cabinet, what was the reason for it? What action will the state government initiate on the expert committee report? Government should clarify to the state people? But, the government is maintaining silence.”
Remarking that Tamil Nadu would face drastic effects socio-economically if online gambling is not banned immediately, the PMK president said the state government should clarify on the current status of the ordinance.
“If the ordinance is not ready, the cabinet should be immediately convened and the ordinance approved. It should be subsequently forwarded for the governor’s assent,” he was quoted by DTNext.
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 (WP No. 18022/2020).