Karnataka has passed legislation prohibiting online gambling
The assembly passed a bill on Tuesday to put a stop to online gaming and betting, despite concerns raised by industry stakeholders. The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was piloted by Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who argued the existing law was insufficient to restrict internet gambling because it was a non-cognisable and bailable offence. The bill attempts to outlaw all types of wagering, betting, and gambling, with the exception of the lottery and horse races.
On Tuesday, the Karnataka legislative assembly passed a bill amending the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, to prohibit all types of gambling, including online gambling, in the state.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which represents eight crore traders and over 40,000 trade associations, has stated that the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which seeks to prohibit online gaming, will harm the Indian start-up sector, the gaming and animation industry, and millions of Indian gamers and e-sports players.
Indian start-ups such as Dream11, Nazara, MPL, Games 24*7, and Paytm First Games will be impacted by the proposed ban on online gambling. India boasts 623 gaming start-ups, according to the analytics platform Tracxn.
According to CAIT, the bill will encourage illegal offshore gaming and betting apps in the grey market. Thousands of ordinary Indians have lost their entire lives savings as a result of these illegal casino apps.
“The proposed regulation does not prohibit online games that fully adhere to games-of-skill features,” the CM stated. The authorities, on the other hand, will go after those who run games of chance that are disguised as games of skill. Skill games that have the potential for the player to lose money would also elicit action.”
Also read : Amazon Has Banned Over 600 Chinese Brands As Part Of Review Fraud Crackdown
Priyank Kharge, a Congress politician, said the government should form a committee with industry stakeholders and come up with a law that prohibits online betting rather than a bill that won’t pass muster.
“Despite police booking cases and arresting those participating in such activities, they used to receive bail easily and resume their operations,” the home minister stated. The new measure will correct these flaws and make the crime punishable. The law also calls for harsher penalties and punishments.” According to Jnanendra, the bill will allow the government to conduct raids on anyone who engages in illicit gaming.
Despite police booking cases and arresting those participating in such activities, they used to receive bail easily and resume their operations,” the home minister stated. The new measure will correct these flaws and make the crime punishable. The law also calls for harsher penalties and punishments.” According to Jnanendra, the bill will allow the government to conduct raids on anyone who engages in illicit gaming.
The bill, according to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, is just the beginning of an effort to regulate online gaming. “At the moment, there is no effective law in place to prevent these acts. “Under existing legislation, even raiding gambling establishments need the authorization of the court,” he stated.
Several people are falling prey to online cricket betting, according to Congress MLA Ramesh Kumar, especially during the IPL season. How successful will this bill be in reducing this evil, he wondered, given that the operators of internet gambling are based in far-flung locations? He stated, “Hundreds of families have been wrecked as a result of online gambling.”
Also read : Pfizer Claims That Its Covid Vaccination Is Safe And Effective In Children Aged 5 To 11
Follow us on Twitter, Telegram and Instagram
