After the passage of Karnataka Police Amendment Bill, Home Minister Aragra Jnanendra informed ET that Karnataka is planning to enforce new online gaming after first framing the rules. While the bill awaits governor’s approval, the government is all set to notify draft rules under the amended first law and issue the notification after hearing suggestions and concerns from the industry.
Justice TR Ravi of the Kerala High Court pronounced the judgment today, almost two months after all arguments in the matter were concluded and the writ petitions filed by four online rummy companies were reserved for judgment.
Amid the frenzy of the recent Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill 2021 aimed at banning online games for stakes, reports have emerged that a cluster of technology companies are preparing to challenge the Karnataka government's move.
Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that bans online gaming was passed amid skepticism and disagreements from the members of the opposition party expressed over its effectiveness.
FIFS's (Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports) legal experts opined that the bill runs contrary to a catena of judgments delivered by the courts. In fact, vide judgment dated 30 July 2021 the Supreme Court finally upheld the validity of online fantasy sports by stating that the issue of whether fantasy sports format amounts to gambling or betting or wagering is no longer res integra.
The legal jurisprudence emanating from Supreme Court for over the past 60 years is very clear, that games of skill are not gambling, and offering of games of skill is a legitimate activity protected under the Indian Constitution. This has been reiterated multiple times by various high courts, including the Karnataka High Court.
The Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court (MHC) order that struck down certain amendments introduced by the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, as unconstitutional in the matter of Junglee Games India Pvt. Ltd. & Anr. v The State of Tamil Nadu & Ors, reported a local news agency.
In the recent episode of G2G news’ flagship video series “Game on with Jay Sayta”, the host touched upon his entrepreneurial journey, his overseas experience vis-a-vis real money gaming segment, his views on regulations and his plans ahead.
Amid litigations, crackdowns and bans, online gaming involving stakes has frequently attracted the ire of Southern India. Karnataka is the recent entry in the list of its southern neighbours to bring in a legislation banning online betting and gambling in the upcoming Legislature session starting on Monday.
The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, drafted with an aim to ban online gambling, proposes a prison term of up to three years and a fine as high as Rs 3 Lakh for violators.
The state government in July had informed the High Court, hearing a petition seeking a ban on all forms of online betting and gambling, that it had drafted a bill.
The online gaming sector is also looking forward to the setting up of a council of ministers to explore an alternative tax structure for goods and services. There is still disagreement as to whether these firms should be taxed on the overall amount of money that consumers spend on competitions or only on the fees that these platforms charge.
Centre's affidavit was filed in a plea seeking a ban on online gaming sites. It argues that the petitioner has failed to implead state governments as parties to the case. It also states that proper adjudication would not be possible unless the respective state governments are part of the proceedings.
While the government’s acknowledgment of strategizing a centralized approach to regulate gambling and betting sites is a significant move, the states of India are changing their local gambling laws. Furthermore, the online gaming industry is getting court orders for the same, thereby, creating more hurdles in restricting gambling and activities that require a skill.
The senior leader's comments came after Madras High Court, on 3 August 2021, lifted the ban on online games for stakes in the state. He added that the advertisements about online gaming are luring people into it.
