Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has given his assent to a bill banning online gambling including rummy and poker. The bill was adopted in March by the state Assembly for a second time on March 23. The Governor approved the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill. The move comes few weeks after the Tamil Nadu Assembly once again unanimously adopted the bill to ban online gambling after the state Governor returned it to the government for reconsideration.
CM Stalin on anti-online gambling Bill
Hours later, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced in the House that a good outcome of the resolution passed by the Assembly is that Governor Ravi has given his assent to the anti-online gambling Bill. "The gazattee notification will be issued today," he said.
Following the notification, the anti-online gambling legislation is set to come into force in Tamil Nadu. Advertisement in any form promoting online gambling or playing of online games of chance with money or other stakes is prohibited in the state. The specified online games of chance are rummy and poker. Those violating the provision on advertisement for promotion or inducing people to play online gambling/games of chance face punishment with imprisonment up to one year or with fine, which may extend to Rs 5 lakh, or both.
In Tamil Nadu, any person indulging in online gambling/online games of chance with money or other stakes shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine up to Rs 5,000 or both. Any person who provides online gambling service or games of poker and rummy with money or other stakes shall face punishment with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to Rs 10 lakh or both.
An ordinance (prohibiting online gambling, wager-based online games of chance of Rummy and Poker) was promulgated by Governor Ravi on October 1, 2022 and a gazette notification was made by the government on October 3. The adoption of the bill was necessitated after the Madras High Court struck down in August 2021 the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act 2021 which banned wager or placing bets in cyber space.
New gaming-related amendments by Centre
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had notified new gaming-related amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics code) rules, 2021 for an open, safe & trusted and accountable Internet and layout a comprehensive framework for Online Gaming Eco-system.
The amendments also deal with fact checking related to online content pertaining to the government. These rules address the twin challenges of catalyzing and expanding online gaming innovation and at the same time protecting citizens from illegal betting and wagering online. Rules will be catalyst for expanding innovation, while banning/prohibiting wagering on outcome of games and betting.
Online gaming is a multi-billion opportunity for Indian Startups and an important part of PM Modi's vision of IndiaTechade and USD 1 trillion digital economy.
Online gaming startups and innovation are being powered by young Indians across the country and these rules will provide clarity and certainty in terms of policy framework for them.
Rules will ensure that online games or sites that involve wagering will be banned completely including advertising or any time of presence.
Industry participating SROs will be core of the enabling framework which will certify permissible online games. Stakeholder participative SROs to determine permissible online games; Safety of Gamers including Children to be addressed.
Under the Rules, MEITY to also notify agency to factcheck false and misleading information related to government business.
(With PTI inputs)
Also Read: Govt amends IT rules 2021, lays out norms for online gaming
