Karnataka bans online 'games of chance' – but will move stand legal scrutiny?

Karnataka bans online 'games of chance' – but will move stand legal scrutiny?

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Meanwhile, Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) backed the Indian gaming startups and said that the amended Act only affects the Indian companies, which mostly charge a small


registration fee to play their games, and will not affect other foreign games, where children spend thousands of rupees on in-app purchases. "The ban will also prohibit Indian games


like Chess, Carrom, Archery, Hockey and digital versions of traditional sports," IAMAI added. WHAT ABOUT FANTASY SPORTS? The Supreme Court had recently dismissed the SLP challenging the


Online Fantasy Sports (OFS) format offered by Dream11 which claimed it amounted to gambling, wagering, and betting and is not a ‘Game of Skill. Kathuria notes that this decision echoes the


October 2020 Rajasthan HC judgment and underlines the Court’s belief that games of skill are not gambling and are legitimate business activities protected under the Indian constitution.


"Entry 34 of List II of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution empowers states to legislate matters relating to betting and gambling but does not explicitly include games of skill under


this jurisdiction", he told THE QUINT. Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), a self-regulatory industry body for fantasy sports, said the law appears to be misguided since it


penalises legitimate businesses by treating them at par with illegal online gambling, betting and wagering platforms. Such confusing signals could result in impeding the development of


sports in the state, it said.