Protest Erupt In Karnataka’s Kalaburagi Demanding Ban On Online Rummy Games

Protest reportedly erupted in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi demanding a complete ban on online rummy games in the state. 

As per TV9 Kannada, a social activist organisation called Namma Karnataka Sene held protests outside the District Collector’s Office in the city on Wednesday (October 16). As per the report, the protesters alleged that “hundreds of youths were gambling real money on online games”.

Quoting the organisation, the report said that marginalised youth were saddled with loans owing to online gaming platforms and were increasingly susceptible to developing addiction to online gambling sites. 

The protesters also alleged that the state government and home department have so far failed to crack the whip on such platforms despite complaints at Kalaburagi and Yadgir police stations. According to the report, Namma Karnataka Sene also submitted a petition to local authorities demanding a complete ban on online rummy games in the state.

In February, Karnataka home minister Gangadharaiah Parameshwara said that the state will come out with legislation to curb cricket betting and online gaming.

Prior to that, the state’s IT Minister Priyank Kharge, who is also the MLA from Kalaburagi, said that there was a dire need to clearly define “game of chance” and “game of “ by both the Centre and state authorities. 

Notably, Karnataka High Court (HC) in 2022 had overturned a local law that banned online gambling games. In its order, the HC had quashed key provisions of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, which were brought in to ban all forms of gambling in the state.

The protests are expected to whip up more trouble for the Indian online gaming industry, which has already been struggling on account of the Centre’s 28% goods and services tax (GST) mandates. 

Last year, minister of state (MoS) for finance Pankaj Chaudhary said that 71 show cause notices totalling INR 1.12 Lakh Cr have been issued to online gaming platforms for FY23 and FY24 (till October 2023).

That said, the government has actively cracked the whip on overseas gambling platforms. Besides issuing guidelines banning social media influencers from promoting or advertising offshore online betting platforms, central authorities have also issued directives against indirect and surrogate advertisements promoting illegal betting and gambling.

It is pertinent to note that there is no central law explicitly stating that online gambling is illegal. As per an IMARC Group report, the Indian online gambling market is expected to touch the $5.49 Bn mark by 2032.