Karnataka online gambling ban, explained
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Karnataka legislature has passed a Bill to amend the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 to ban all forms of gambling in the state, including online gambling. Tamil Nadu Gambling and Police Laws (Amendment) Act was struck down by the Madras High Court this August as being ultra vires.
The Karnataka government amended the Karnata Police Act, 1963 to ban all forms of gambling. The new law also includes the use of cyberspace in the process of gaming. The law is needed to make gambling a cognisable and non-bailable offence. Public interest litigations seeking a ban on online gaming and betting also served as a catalyst for the introduction of the amendments to the police act.
The law on gambling covers all forms of wagering or betting except horse races and lotteries. It also covers betting on the skills of others. The law is not applicable to betting by players involved in a game of skill. It applies to electronic transfer of funds in connection with any game.
The new law enhances maximum punishment for owners of gambling centres from one year to three years of imprisonment and fines from Rs 1000 to Rs 1 lakh. For aiding or abetting gambling, the punishment has been enhanced to six months imprisonment, a Rs 10,000 fine and a year imprisonment.
The Tamil Nadu government brought a law to impose a ban on all forms of gambling including online gaming in February. In August, the law was struck down by the Madras High Court. The partial inclusion of games of skill as acts of betting in the amended Karnataka Police Act is likely to come under scrutiny.
The new law in Karnataka bars wagering on online games. The bill has made some exemptions, including online betting on horse racing. Lawyer says the government should consider regulation rather than legislation.
