Tamil Nadu to Bring Legislation to Ban Online Gambling

Tamil Nadu’s chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced on Thursday that the state will take steps to ban online gambling.

As per a report in Medianama, he told journalists that those who “conduct and indulge in online gambling” will be deemed as criminals by the legislations that will be brought in soon.

Tamil Nadu is following suit after states like Andhra Pradesh recently banned betting on online games like rummy, poker, and fantasy sports.

Online gambling has been under scrutiny across various states in the country.

A few days back, the Karnataka High Court issued notice in a plea, challenging the permission granted by the state government to the Bangalore Turf Club allowing online betting. The court questioned the state government about the law based on which the permission was granted.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy also recently urged the Union government to ban online rummy.

As per the reports, Palaniswami told reporters that the ban in Tamil Nadu is announced as it is driving many youths to suicide. He said the various such deaths have been reported in the state recently, including those of two Coimbatore men aged 28 and 32 years.

Palaniswami tweeted that the state government will swiftly take actions to amend the laws to ban online gambling, as it’s ruining the lives of youth by wasting their time and money and driving them to commit suicide. “Honourable Amma [late former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa]’s government has decided to ban all online gambling games,” he said.