Latest news with #PublicGamblingAct
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC calls for new law to regulate online betting
Prayagraj: While noting that existing Public Gambling Act 1867 is a colonial-era law that addresses only conventional forms of gambling like card games, the Allahabad High Court has directed the UP govt to constitute a high-powered committee to examine the need to have a law for the regulation and monitoring of on-line gaming and betting. Justice Vinod Diwakar said the panel shall be headed by Prof KV Raju, the economic advisor to the Uttar Pradesh govt and may include the principal secretary, state tax, as member secretary, besides other experts as members. The curt said a law must be enacted to meet the transformative changes in online betting and gaming and took suo motu cognizance of this issue. "Their (committee) collective input should be used to develop a comprehensive and well-structured legislative framework for regulating and monitoring online gaming and public betting," it ordered. The court passed the order while dealing with the petition moved by two persons – Imran Khan and another, who were accused in a case under the Public Gambling Act for quashing of the charges and trial proceedings against them. As per the police, the accused were running an online betting racket from their residence and earning crores of rupees, leading the locals in Agra to gamble away their earnings. While dealing with the case, the court noted that the Public Gambling Act 1867 is a colonial-era law meant to address conventional gambling like card games, betting on dice and similar forms held in physical gambling. "The Public Gambling Act is a pre-digital law. It makes no mention of digital platforms, servers, or cross-border transactions. Its enforcement is limited to physical gambling houses and has no jurisdiction over virtual gambling environments accessed via mobile phones, computers, or offshore servers," it added. Accordingly, the court in its decision dated May 12 quashed the proceedings against the accused. However, the police were granted the liberty to initiate a fresh investigation after complying with the law. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Allahabad High Court directs Yogi Adityanath govt to constitute panel over online gaming, betting regulation
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a high-powered committee to examine if there was a need to regulate online gaming and betting, reported PTI. Justice Vinod Diwaker gave the following direction after he observed that the existing Public Gambling Act, 1867, was a colonial-era law that addressed only conventional forms of gambling, like card games. The bench stated that the panel would be headed by Professor K V Raju, the economic advisor to the Uttar Pradesh government. It may include the principal secretary (state tax) as a member secretary and other experts as members. The court's direction came after two persons, including one Imran Khan, sought the quashing of gambling charges and criminal proceedings. The duo was accused of running an online betting racket from home and earning crores of rupees, leading the locals in Agra to gamble away their earnings. The court observed that a law must be enacted to meet the transformative changes in online betting and gaming and took a suo-motu cognisance of the issue. "The Public Gambling Act is a pre-digital law. It makes no mention of digital platforms, servers, or cross-border transactions. Its enforcement is limited to physical gambling houses and has no jurisdiction over virtual gambling environments accessed via mobile phones, computers, or offshore servers," it added. The court observed that the existing law has lost its impact and relevance in the era of online gambling, as there exists no definition or regulation of online gambling. It also highlighted that the law presently only provides for negligible penalties, which do not deter large-scale operations. "There is a lack of clarity on the legal status of fantasy sports, poker, and e-sports. Jurisdictional issues also arise, as online platforms operate across state, national, and international boundaries," the court added. As per the details, the fantasy sports in India are stated to be in a legal grey area, hanging in between the line of games of skill and games of chance. Among other things, the court also flagged the use of psychologically manipulative algorithms, reward systems, and notifications by online gaming platforms to encourage prolonged use. The court said it has led to a rise in gaming addiction, anxiety, depression, and social isolation, especially among adolescents and young adults. "Students are increasingly distracted by online gaming, often at the cost of their academic performance and family relationships. The disruption of sleep cycles, lack of discipline, and social withdrawal are common consequences," the court added. The judge noted several online betting operations function outside India's jurisdiction, with servers located abroad and transactions routed through unregulated channels. This poses challenges for law enforcement and increases the risk of money laundering, financial fraud, and terror funding, it observed. A modern, technology-sensitive legislation was therefore urgently needed to address the psychological, social, and national security implications of online gaming, it added. Citing the merits of the case, the court observed since it involved a non-cognisable offence, the police could not have probed it without an order of the magistrate. In May, the court in its decision quashed the proceedings against the accused but the police was granted the liberty to initiate a fresh investigation after complying with the law.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Allahabad HC asks UP govt to form panel over online gaming, betting regulation
Prayagraj, The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a high-powered committee to examine whether there was a need to regulate online gaming and betting. Justice Vinod Diwaker's direction came after he observed that the existing Public Gambling Act, 1867 was a colonial-era law that addresses only conventional forms of gambling like card games. The court said the panel would be headed by Professor K V Raju, the economic advisor to the Uttar Pradesh government and may include the principal secretary as member secretary besides other experts as members. The direction came after two persons, including one Imran Khan, sought quashing of gambling charges and criminal proceedings. The duo was accused of running an online betting racket from home and earning crores of rupees leading the locals in Agra to gamble away their earnings. The court observed a law must be enacted to meet the transformative changes in online betting and gaming and took a suo-motu cognisance of the issue. "The Public Gambling Act is a pre-digital law. It makes no mention of digital platforms, servers, or cross-border transactions. Its enforcement is limited to physical gambling houses and has no jurisdiction over virtual gambling environments accessed via mobile phones, computers, or offshore servers," it added. The court observed in the era of online gambling, the existing law has lost its impact and relevance, as there exists no definition or regulation of online gambling. It also highlighted that the law presently only provides for negligible penalties, which do not deter large-scale operations. "There is a lack of clarity on the legal status of fantasy sports, poker, and e-sports. Jurisdictional issues also arise, as online platforms operate across state, national, and international boundaries," the court added. Fantasy sports in India are stated to be in a legal grey area, straddling the line between games of skill and games of chance . The court also flagged the use of psychologically manipulative algorithms, reward systems, and notifications by online gaming platforms to encourage prolonged use. This has led to a rise in gaming addiction, anxiety, depression, and social isolation, especially among adolescents and young adults, it said. "Students are increasingly distracted by online gaming, often at the cost of their academic performance and family relationships. The disruption of sleep cycles, lack of discipline, and social withdrawal are common consequences," the court added. The judge noted several online betting operations function outside India's jurisdiction, with servers located abroad and transactions routed through unregulated channels. This poses challenges for law enforcement and increases the risk of money laundering, financial fraud, and terror funding, it observed. A modern, technology-sensitive legislation was therefore urgently needed to address the psychological, social, and national security implications of online gaming, it added. On the merits of the case against the accused, the court observed since it involved a non-cognisable offence, the police could not have probed it without an order of the magistrate. The court in its decision passed last month quashed the proceedings against the accused but the police was granted the liberty to initiate a fresh investigation after complying with the law.
Hans India
31-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Mumbai Man Opens Up About Gaming Addiction and Recovery
Digital gaming and betting have become increasingly accessible, especially in a hyper-connected city like Mumbai. With the proliferation of smartphones and targeted social media ads, more young adults are being drawn into online platforms that blur the line between entertainment and addiction. What starts as a harmless pastime often escalates into compulsive behavior with serious emotional and financial repercussions. Personal Stories from the Edge What began as casual gaming during school holidays quickly spiraled into a full-blown addiction for 23-year-old Shoaib Shaikh. The Mumbai resident recently shared his personal journey to recovery, hoping it will resonate with others battling similar issues. His story reflects a growing concern around compulsive digital behavior, especially among youth navigating stress and isolation. Shoaib's struggles didn't end with video games. Like many others, he was lured by the promise of quick earnings through betting platforms, eventually spending real money at online casinos. Before he knew it, the initially harmless fun turned into financial and emotional turmoil. He notes how easily players fall into the trap of gambling as a means to earn money, rather than treating it as occasional entertainment—a shift that can have dangerous consequences. Another telling example is that of Shweta, a young professional whose casual engagement with online casino games escalated into a near-tragic ordeal. Initially enticed by the thrill and quick wins, she quickly found herself in debt, borrowing money and eventually attempting suicide. Her story shows the psychological grip these platforms can have and the lack of early intervention mechanisms for users slipping into addiction. Expert Insights and the Need for Regulation According to consultant psychiatrist Dr. Avinash De Sousa, such cases are part of a broader trend of process addictions, which include compulsive gaming and gambling. These behaviors often mask deeper issues like depression or impulsivity, requiring clinical treatment and family support. He stresses the importance of therapy and limiting access to money and the internet as part of the recovery process. Legal experts also highlight significant regulatory gaps. The Public Gambling Act, rooted in colonial law, does not adequately address the modern digital gambling ecosystem. While recent amendments to the Information Technology Rules provide some oversight at the national level, state laws continue to vary, leading to inconsistent enforcement. Cybercrime lawyers have flagged dubious practices by some gaming apps, such as forcing users to redeem winnings through offshore platforms or cryptocurrency, potentially exposing them to financial and legal risks. Designing for Dependency The structural design of these platforms also contributes to their addictive nature. As Sonali Patankar from Responsible Netism points out, elements like color schemes and user interface layouts are deliberately engineered to maximize user engagement and retention, often at the cost of mental well-being. Without strict design regulations, these platforms exploit cognitive vulnerabilities, particularly among younger users. Breaking the Silence The common thread in these narratives is the delayed acknowledgment of a problem and the absence of open dialogue. Both Shoaib and Shweta emphasized the importance of speaking out before the consequences become irreversible. Their experiences point to an urgent need for awareness, better regulation, and accessible mental health resources to help individuals recognize and confront their digital dependencies.
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
SC issues notice to Centre on plea to ban betting apps
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea seeking a complete ban on 'illegal' betting apps. The petition also sought strict regulations on online gaming and fantasy sports, and the enactment of a comprehensive law. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh issued a notice to the Centre and sought its response, but refrained from issuing notices to the state governments at the present stage. The petitioner, claiming himself 'a prominent social activist, humanitarian, and President of Global Peace Initiative, which is dedicated to promoting peace and justice globally', said the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the interest of millions of people and to protect the sanity and democracy in India by banning 'illegal' betting apps. The petition referred to an FIR registered in March this year in Telangana against 25 Bollywood celebrities, cricketers and influencers for misleading the public by promoting betting apps. Further, it referred to a news article regarding the suicide of 24 people from Telangana after they were unable to pay debts incurred due to online betting. It said that the petition was filed directly before the Supreme Court to safeguard Indian youth and vulnerable citizens from the perils of unregulated online betting and gambling, often disguised as fantasy sports and skill-based gaming. The petitioner said the plea was filed in 'the larger public interest to safeguard the youth of India from the unregulated, exploitative, and dangerous online betting industry operating under the garb of fantasy sports and skill-based gaming'. 'That betting, both online and offline, is inherently a game of chance, not a game of skill, and hence falls within the ambit of gambling, which is prohibited in many states under the Public Gambling Act, 1867,' said the petition, adding that there is no uniform central legislation to regulate online betting. Further, the petitioner claimed that he is a globally recognised Peace Ambassador, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by many countries, including the US, Norway, Sudan and India, for stopping several major wars through his peace efforts and rescuing 310 orphans and street children around the world.
