Online Gaming Federation to Contest Tamil Nadu's Prohibition of Internet-based Gambling
Brace Yourself, Gamblers: Tamil Nadu's Online Gambling Ban Sparks Legal Showdown
In a move that's got the digital gaming world abuzz, Tamil Nadu, India's tenth-largest state, recently introduced a law outlawing online gambling. While this decision comes after expert advice from a committee headed by a retired High Court Justice, the bill is likely to face a stern legal challenge from the E-gaming Federation (EGF).
Digital Dicey: Online Gambling Endangers Public Tranquility
On Wednesday, the Tamil Nadu Assembly approved a bill put forward to ban online gambling within the state, effectively replacing an Ordinance issued by Governor Ravi that prohibited online gambling and set guidelines for online gaming. The reasoning behind the bill leaves no doubt about the authorities' concerns - online gambling poses a far greater threat to public order than its land-based counterpart, due to its highly addictive nature and the challenges it presents to lawmakers in creating an effective regulatory framework.
The bill echoes the observations made by a committee chaired by retired High Court Justice K. Chandru, which concluded that games that don't involve a random number generator, like word games or board games, cannot be equated with their offline versions when they are electronically played. This committee, tasked with providing advice on new online gaming legislation, also drew attention to other issues arising with online gambling, including its 24/7 accessibility and the creation of skewed competition due to the involvement of non-human or virtual participants.
The committee pointed out that when players engage in games with computer-run algorithms, assessing the skill level of the participants becomes tricky, as it's difficult to distinguish human skill from programmed skill. Additionally, many online gambling platforms allow players to gamble with virtual currencies, effectively bypassing the state's financial surveillance.
Courtroom Clash: EGF Ready to Pounce on Weaknesses
For the EGF, this new bill is a soft target they're eager to exploit. Upon studying the bill, they believe a weak spot has been identified, and they're positioning themselves to take advantage of it. According to the federation, categorizing rummy and poker as games of chance is in conflict with multiple legal judgments, including a recent ruling by the Madras High Court.
"Both rummy and poker are skill-based games, and classifying them as games of chance is in dissonance with several judicial precedents," stated Sameer Barde, the EGF's CEO. "The Supreme Court and various High Courts have reaffirmed the legality of skill-based games, and Tamil Nadu must acknowledge these judgments in establishing a gaming policy that prioritizes player protection instead of resorting to a ban."
Barde further argued that rather than enforcing a ban, state authorities should develop a comprehensive online gaming policy, support only legitimate online skill-gaming operators, and eliminate illegal businesses that flout the law.
With the EGF gearing up for a legal battle, the battle lines are drawn, and the future of online gambling in Tamil Nadu hangs precariously in the balance. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Enrichment Data:While the E-gaming Federation's specific legal action against Tamil Nadu's online gambling ban isn't explicitly confirmed, search results suggest ongoing legal disputes and regulatory tensions in the state. "Legitimate online gaming platforms are involved in ongoing legal challenges around Tamil Nadu’s online gaming regulations," [2] demonstrates the industry's ongoing engagement in court battles.
Judicial precedents may influence future challenges, such as the Madras High Court's emphasis on case-by-case assessments of skill vs. chance in 2005 [3], and the Kerala High Court permitting fantasy sports in 2020 [1]. These decisions could support the EGF's potential argument against the ban.
Recent developments include reports on surrogate gambling advertisements [2] and debates over gaming restrictions, like late-night gaming bans [4], as well as the central government blocking over 1,400 unlawful gaming sites in 2024 [2]. Despite this, regulation remains primarily state-driven.
Though the All India Gaming Federation's legal status concerning challenges to Tamil Nadu's gambling ban is not detailed, the broader legal context indicates that such action would align with the industry's efforts to contest restrictive regulations or overreaching bans on skill-based games.
- In response to Tamil Nadu's online gambling ban, the E-gaming Federation (EGF) is preparing to exploit perceived weaknesses in the new bill.
- The EGF believes that categorizing games like rummy and poker as games of chance conflicts with several legal judgments, including a recent ruling by the Madras High Court.
- Sameer Barde, the EGF's CEO, argues that the ban goes against judicial precedents that reaffirm the legality of skill-based games.
- Barde contends that instead of enforcing a ban, state authorities should develop a comprehensive online gaming policy and support only legitimate online skill-gaming operators.
- The outcome of this legal challenge could influence other states' gambling-related policies and legislation.
- The general news, regulatory trends, and political environment regarding gambling in India remain subject to ongoing debates and court disputes.
