Indian Gaming Body, Operators Appeal Online Gambling Ban in Karnataka
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Just days after Karnataka banned online gambling in the state, affected stakeholders have appealed the decision in the court hoping to revoke the ban.
The All India Gaming Federation, a self-regulating gaming body, along with three other gaming operators, has filed a writ petition in the state’s High Court challenging the legality of the amended act to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. The amended act came into force on October 5.
The new law explicitly bans and criminalizes all forms of online gaming where stakes are involved, including games of skill. Those found guilty could face imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of up to 1 LAC.
It joins Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to become the fourth Indian state to outlaw online gambling though Tamil Nadu’s amendment act was quashed by the state’s high court.
Immediately after the law came into effect, gaming operators began blocking access to residents of Karnataka. This includes all real-money poker operators, including PokerStars.IN, Adda52, PokerBaazi, MPL and Spartan Poker, as well as rummy and fantasy gaming platforms, considered even bigger than poker apps.
