India: Tamil Nadu bans online gaming due to recent reports of suicide

The government is set to impose a statewide ban on any online gaming. If caught – players will face fines of up to Rs5,000 and six months imprisonment 

Tamil Nadu Governor – Banwarilal Purohit (pictured), declared a new regulation that will see online gaming within the state banned. The games, including poker and rummy, will all be banned due to a number of players being constantly cheated, with some actually committing suicide due to accumulating debts.  

Those caught participating in online gaming will face fines of up to Rs5,000 (US$67) and six months imprisonment. Additionally, the newly imposed law also bans transferring funds which will be used for betting or distributing winnings. 

 The Governor further stated, “the state has thus decided to ban online gaming to avoid such incidents of suicide and protect the innocent people from the evils of online gaming.” 

“Due to online gaming, innocent people mainly youngsters are being cheated and some people have committed suicide. In order to avoid such cases of suicide, and protect innocent people from the evils of online gaming, the government has submitted a proposal to the Governor to promulgate an ordinance by amending the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, 1930; Chennai City Police Act 1888 and the Tamil Nadu District Police Act 1859.” 

As reported by Indian gaming news site?GLaws, Tamil Nadu becomes the third state to ban online gambling in recent months after Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and could soon be joined by a fourth with Karnataka making noises about a similar move. India is comprised of 28 states and eight union territories. 

On Saturday, authorities in the state of Karnataka said it’s issuing its own ban on online gambling with Home minister Basavaraj Bommai (right) stating, “A meeting of high level officers has been held regarding online games. Common people have been troubled, youngsters are being misguided, and families distressed. We have received complaints from parents as well, so we are trying to bring regulation laws regarding online games.”

“Online games are ruining many lives in the state. We have noticed it. Many illegal gambling and betting websites have mushroomed during the lockdown. We need to put an end to such a menace.” 

Karnataka’s government is said to be weighing between the options of a full ban, as has now been done in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (and Telangana in 2017), or whether to permit online gambling under certain strict regulations.