After government figures revealed that businesses had systematically defrauded 450 million people annually, India’s parliament passed a comprehensive bill banning online gambling.
The ban has an impact on platforms like India’s wildly popular homegrown fantasy cricket apps, which include cards, poker, and fantasy sports.
Additionally, it’s unclear who will be India’s top cricket team’s key sponsor.
The biggest fantasy sports gaming platform in India, Dream11, was named as the nation’s lead sponsor for three years in July 2023, with its logo appearing on Team India jerseys.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not made any announcements regarding that significant sponsor.
Devajit Saikia, the secretary of the BCCI, stated on Friday, “We will not do anything if it’s not permissible.” The BCCI will adhere to all national policies that the central government has set forth.
Late on Thursday, the legislation that criminalizes the offering, promotion, and financing of such games was passed by both chambers of parliament. Offenders could spend up to five years in prison.
In a statement released on Friday, Dream 11 advised fans to “stay tuned” even though the bill had been passed.
The bill still needs to be formally ratified by the president before going into effect, so other games remained online as of Friday.
A government statement stated that “this legislation is intended to reduce addiction, financial ruin, and social distress brought on by predatory gaming platforms that thrive on deceptive promises of quick wealth.”
The Indian gaming sector, which has one of the largest markets worldwide, has been made exceptions for e-sports and educational games, which the government claims will be promoted as part of the digital economy.
The new law, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will “encourage e-sports and online social games” and “at the same time, protect our society from the negative effects of online money games.
Around a third of the world’s most populous nation, according to the government, had lost money gambling online.
Instead of a blanket ban, industry groups had urged regulation and taxation, warning that the move might lead to players turning to illegal offshore platforms.
However, bill supporters claimed that the social costs were excessive.
According to officials, widespread financial distress, addiction, and even suicide have been brought on by the rapid expansion of gambling platforms.
According to the government, it is also connected to terrorism financing, money laundering, and fraud.
The minister of technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, noted that the law distinguishes online “social” games from those that are played for money.
A government briefing note read, “It encourages e-sports, which are organized competitive video games, and promotes safe online social and educational games.”
Source: Aljazeera
Leave a Reply