An ordinance to “ban online gaming” involving betting, has been promulgated by the Tamil Nadu government within the backdrop of suicides by gamers who allegedly lost money, and any violation would attract both fine and imprisonment, ranging up to 2 years.
The ordinance was promulgated by Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Friday supported a proposal from the government , days after Chief Minister K Palaniswami promised action during this connection.
Incidentally, Andhra Pradesh had recently banned online gaming, besides betting and gambling, while neighbouring Union Territory Puducherry wrote to the Centre seeking an identical action on such activities following the alleged suicide of a person who lost money in it. PUBG Mobile returning to India, Developers Have Announced
The ordinance promulgated by Purohit gives for provisions including “banning the persons who are wagering or betting in cyber space using computers or any communication device or resource,” a Raj Bhavan release here said.
Palaniswami had recently said the govt was taking steps to ban online games following demands from several quarters and complaints about suicides of individuals who lost money in such activities within the state. The Madras supreme court Madurai Bench is additionally hearing a case against online gaming.
Three people had allegedly died of suicide in Coimbatore this month thanks to heavy loss within the online rummy game. “Due to online gaming, innocent people, mainly youngsters are being cheated and a couple of people have committed suicide.
So on avoid such incidents of suicide and protect the innocent people from the evils of online gaming,” the govt. submitted the proposal, seeking amending relevant police acts, the discharge said.
Other provisions of the ordinance include punishing those found “gaming” with Rs 5,000 fine and and 6 months imprisonment, two years jail and Rs 10,000 fine for folks that operate common gaming houses.
The ordinance also banned “electronic transfer of funds” used for wagering or betting, distributing the winnings, prize and punishing those running the corporate which conducts online gaming by wagering and betting.
