The Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Monday approved a long-pending Bill to ban online gambling, which includes online rummy and poker with stakes in the State.
The legislation, called the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, also seeks to regulate online gaming including fantasy sports which may now need vetting by a multi-member committee, Justice K Chandru, retired Madras High Court judge who led the four-member committee tasked with giving recommendations on online gambling in the state, told ET.
Across party lines, there was consensus to ban these games in the state, Chandru said. He added that for all other online games, including fantasy sports, a Committee will be set up to look individually into the companies and determine if they need to be regulated or banned.
“The rules are yet to be framed. A committee will be constituted when the Gazette notification is published,” he said.
Based on his panel’s report, an ordinance that later became the Bill was passed by the state assembly that sought to ban online rummy and poker.
Malay Kumar Shukla, Secretary, E-Gaming Federation, said, “We are examining the legislation and shall be taking appropriate action based on legal advice in due course of time.”