The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has expressed its misery with the Karnataka government’s proposed ban on online gaming on the ground that the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Compliance Act, 2021 doesn’t make a reasonable difference between games of skill and games of chance. It has looked for a meeting with the Karnataka government to make a portrayal for the benefit of the gaming business.

Skill-based gaming couldn’t measure up to gambling, and banning isn’t an answer, contends AIGF CEO Roland Landers. It will harm the online gaming industry, which has been developing at a CAGR of more than 25% over the most recent couple of years, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As individuals have been home-bound during COVID-19, online skill-based gaming has empowered them to remain connected with friends and peers. This has brought about 1.5x development for the sector year-on-year. Today, there are more than 350 million online gamers in India, with sizable participation from Karnataka,” said Mr. Landers, adding that many are pro players who have built a career dependent on skill-based online gaming the worldwide field.

AIGF trusts that the government of Karnataka will offer a chance to make a portrayal for the business on issues concerning games of skill.

Startups in Karnataka
According to the All India Gaming Federation-EY report, named ‘Online Gaming in India – The GST Conundrum’, a large portion of the more than 400 startups in the environment are situated in Karnataka.

“These startups need the help of the State organization. The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Compliance Act, 2021, has unintentionally banned these authentic businesses. The amendment has neglected to make a clear difference between games of skill and games of chance, and this will adversely affect this dawn sector, which has enrolled more than $1 billion in yearly income and has been liable for the creation of numerous unicorns throughout the most recent two years,” he said.

AIGF is of the view that the regulatory framework sets an exceptionally helpless trend for different States. “Karnataka enjoys in an extremely keen worldwide standing, known as a middle for future technologies and development, which has helped the Indian startups environment through a favorable policy environment. This standing has made a gigantic effort with this move towards a ban,” said Mr. Landers.

He called attention to that Nagaland, Meghalaya and some different States have formed guidelines for the gaming sector where a clear difference has been made between games of skill and games of chance. “The Supreme Court has additionally upheld the online skill-based gaming sector in past rulings under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution,” he said.

Going ahead, AIGF plans to carry clarity to this difference (games of skill versus games of chance) in light of a legitimate concern for the extending gaming industry.

Credits: The Hindu