CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Online gambling is already banned in West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka (Overturned by HC), Kerala(Overturned by HC) and a few other States.

Detailed explanation-2: -In 2020, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh imposed a ban on any online gambling and real money gaming activities. That said, even if national laws have nothing on online gambling, local governments can still come up with amendments concerning online gambling. They could prohibit or regulate the industry.

Detailed explanation-3: -Telangana was the first to promulgate an official ban on online gambling and betting as early as 2017. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had called for a ban on online gaming in a letter to the information technology & telecom minister. The state assembly passed a law to this effect in December 2020.

Detailed explanation-4: -In October, the state passed legislation to prohibit online gambling and regulate online games amid a spike in suicides. But as India’s multibillion-dollar online gaming industry continues to grow, along with access to the internet, officials fear online gaming addiction is becoming more widespread.

Detailed explanation-5: -However, this does not apply to a “game of skill”. Even in the face of the Supreme Court judgement of 1968, there are still a few states that ban online gaming. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Telangana are among them.