The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2021, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on September 17 to boycott online gaming or gambling by amending the Karnataka Police Act of 1963, with the most extreme detainment of three years and punishment up to Rs. 1 lakh, which has overwhelmed the gaming business.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra presented the Bill, which means to ‘boycott online games, including all types of betting or wagering, including the type of tokens valued in terms of money, paid previously or after issue of it. It restricted electronic means and virtual currency, electronic exchange of funds regarding any game of chance’.

Many dread that the move by the Karnataka government might hamper the picture of Bangalore as it is a center for unicorns. The gaming industry is likewise worried that the general gaming environment of India can get influenced by presenting a law not restricting online real money skill gaming in its State.

Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation said, “India is the fifth biggest online gaming market all around the world and skill-based gaming, a dawn sector, is bringing forth an expanding number of unicorns inside the country, particularly Karnataka. The sector has been a solid monetary supporter of the Indian economy in any event, during the time of lockdown and is additionally expected to create incomes in an overabundance of $ 3 billion by 2025. The move by the Karnataka government in tabling the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Compliance Act, 2021 act can be viewed as a mishap to the state’s standing of being a tech center and start-up capital.”

As per the Supreme Court, the games of skill are not gambling, and the contribution of games of skill is a legitimate action ensured under the Indian Constitution. This has been repeated on different occasions by different high courts, including the Karnataka High Court.

Justice Vikramajit Sen, a former Judge of the Supreme Court and former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, said, “The Indian regulatory framework has distinguished between games of skill and games of chance in India. Since games of skill might include an entry fee they can’t be viewed as gambling. Games of chance are viewed as gambling as it includes luck instead of skill and subsequently, it is explicitly restricted by the law, wherein games of skill are considered legitimate across most states including digital and online. The sector needs the help of state governments to promote drives towards mindful gaming and acknowledgment of the AIGF ‘Self-regulation Framework’.

AIGF and its advisory members anticipate a chance to draw stakeholders inside the state government to make an industry portrayal on the matter.”

The draft bill will disallow games like online chess, archery, online quiz games, other Indian games, all digital forms of traditional sports, including games like the Asian Games and Olympic Virtual Series.

PK Misra, President Players’ Association – AIGF and former senior IAS said, “The move will influence the online skill-based gaming sector, stopping player’s right to procure their livelihood. There is no clarity on the extent of this law, and we stay in steady dread of the players’ livelihood being restricted whenever without earlier information or discourse.”

“Around 10-12% of India’s gaming community is situated in Karnataka, and a significant number of these players who contend at the worldwide level are afraid for their occupations as well as their ability to seek after their dreams about becoming proficient players on global stages. I unquestionably trust the state government draws a reasonable differentiation among gambling and games of skill. Since 1957, the Supreme court has emphasized games of skill as a legitimate business secured under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution, likewise upheld by the Karnataka High Court in different decisions,” Misra added.

Credits: BW Gaming World