Speaking at a press conference here in Chennai, the former union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss said it is due to the struggle of PMK that the government has decided to ban online rummy.
“We have been protesting for a long to ban online gambling. Accepting our demand, former Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami brought an ordinance banning online rummy. However, the Madras High Court quashed this law. Following this, we protested against online rummy leading to the formation of the Justice Chandru committee to study online rummy.”
As per reports, the cabinet discussed the Justice Chandru report in a meeting on Monday. “We are confident that the decision was made to ban online rummy. But no news has been released so far. The Tamil Nadu government should clarify its position on online rummy,” A Ramadoss said.
The Rajya Sabha MP said actors and celebrities star in online rummy ads for money. “Due to this lakhs of families are ruined. They act in commercials knowingly. Can I act in any ad for money?”
The previous AIADMK government enacted the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act of 2021 banning online betting games like rummy and poker with stakes. However, entities offering such games approached the Madras High Court and got the enactment quashed. An appeal against the order is currently pending with the Supreme Court.
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The State government had, on June 10, said an ordinance would be promulgated based on the recommendations of the Justice Chandru committee. Political parties across party lines are demanding a ban on online rummy in the South Indian state. While news headlines limit it to only rummy, the ban similar to earlier law is expected to cover all games for stakes.
The self-regulatory gaming body AIGF today has urged the Tamil Nadu governor to not approve the proposed ordinance to ban online skill games including rummy and poker. AIGF said a complete prohibition or ban on online skill-based games is held to be unconstitutional.