The Karnataka High Court on October 22 told the Advocate General showing up on behalf of the state government not to make arrests under the new online gambling law that faces lawful difficulties from a few gaming firms.

Showing up for All India Gaming Federation, a skill gaming industry body that has challenged the law, advocate Arvind P Datar mentioned to the court that no arrests be made as the new law had provisions for arrests and FIRs. Recently, the Karnataka Police filed a case against online rummy portal SilkRummy, media reports said.

A single appointed judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit additionally acknowledged Datar’s request to pack together petitions challenging the law that happened on October 5. The case will next be heard on October 27.

Real-money gaming firms Mobile Premier League (MPL), Games24x7, A23(Ace2Three), Junglee Games, and Gameskraft, aside from AIGF, are among the six petitioners who have moved the high court against the law.

These petitions challenge the constitutional legitimacy of amendments made to the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act. The law had banned all types of online gaming where the transfer of money is involved.

The amendment came after a public interest suit was filed in the high court looking for a prohibition on online gambling. It eliminated the difference between the game of skill and the game of chance, consequently bringing skill-based gaming new businesses under its domain.

Datar contended that a comparative amendment made in neighboring Tamil Nadu was struck down by the Madras High Court, which said a game of skill can’t be restricted as a game of bet.

The law was outside the extent of “betting and gambling” under Entry 34 of the state list and states couldn’t boycott online skill-based games.

With the developing internet penetration and a youthful populace, gaming is developing well-known in India. The nation had around 80 million real money games in 2020, a number expected to develop to 150 million by 2023, as per an EY-All India Gaming Federation report.

The industry will be valued at $2 billion by 2023 as far as rake fees procured, the report said.

In any case, a few states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have restricted or attempted to boycott real money games over the previous year.

The Kerala High Court as of late overturned a comparative request by the state government. The Supreme Court in July maintained fantasy sports as a game of skill.

Credits: Moneycontrol