Trader's body CAIT writes to Karnataka govt, urges to reconsider bill proposing ban on online gambling
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- CAIT says the bill does not distinguish between ‘game of skills’ and ‘game of chance’
- Karnataka Govt on 17th Sept tabled the bill to ban online gambling or betting in the state
Two days after the Karnataka Government tabled the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill in the state assembly proposing a blanket ban on all online and skill gaming apps, the trader's body CAIT has written a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Govt. In the letter, Confederation of All India Traders ( CAIT ) has urged the state government to reconsider the bill, as the proposed bill can impact Indian start-ups & developers and even the gaming industry.
CAIT in the appeal letter to the State Govt mentions that the bill does not distinguish between ‘game of skills’ and ‘game of chance’. Praveen Khandelwal, President CAIT said, “A game of chance is pure gambling, which is addictive and should be dealt with adequate legal procedures. On the other hand, a game of skill enables gamers to monetize their gaming talents and finesse. Once the bill bans online skill games, the law-abiding Indian companies will exit the market and the users will turn to harmful offshore and betting apps, which are harmful and dangerous,”
The trader's association in their appeal also mentioned that the proposed banning of all online and skill gaming apps would also affect Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Atmanirbhar Bharat project.
As per the trader's body, there is about 90 gaming companies and developers with 4000 employees in Karnataka that would be directly impacted with the proposed bill.
The Karnataka government on last Friday ( 17th September ) tabled the bill in the assembly to ban online gambling or betting in the state and providing for a maximum imprisonment of three years or fine of up to Rs one lakh for any violation. The ‘Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ tabled in the assembly by Home Minister Araga Jnanendra. The bill to amend the Karnataka Police Act of 1963 states “games means and includes online games, involving all forms of wagering or betting, including in the form of tokens valued in terms of the money paid before or after the issue of it, or electronic means and virtual currency, electronic transfer of funds in connection with any game of chance.”
