The ban potentially encourages illegitimate platforms to thrive, he cautions. For example, would a game of chess where you pay a tournament fee not be permissible? Section 78 of the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill also brings online ‘games of skill’ under its ambit and makes taking fees illegal, but the original Act was confined only to ‘games of chance’, which is gambling,” he says. “The term ‘games of skills for money’ does not provide clarity. We must remember that the Madras High Court recently struck down a similar law in Tamil Nadu that tried to stop online skill gaming,” he told Metrolife.īiren Ghose, Chairman, CII National Committee for Animation, Visual Effects, Games and Comics (AVGC) and president, Association of Bangalore Animation Industry (ABAI), says the government must come up with a comprehensive list of games that are allowed. “Needless to say, our industry will challenge this in court. Illegal offshore gambling operators will flourish because of the ban, he believes. However, we would like to reiterate our stand, since legitimate online skill gaming businesses are badly impacted,” he says. “As the apex industry body, we have notified our member companies to block Karnataka in accordance with the law. The gaming industry wants the Karnataka government to define ‘games of chance’ and ‘games of skill’ in the wake of a new law banning online gambling.ĭuring the recently concluded monsoon session in both houses the state legislature, the government passed a law which the gaming industry, predominantly based in Bengaluru, believes will impact it adversely.Īccording to Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation, says while the intent of the new law is something his federation fully supports, certain clauses are not clear, and end up clubbing games of chance with games of skill played for stakes.

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