The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday heard entries in a group of petitions challenging the amendment to the Karnataka Police Act restricting online games of skill being played for stakes.

Justice Krishna S Dixit adjourned the hearing to Thursday, demonstrating that the court will think about the prayer for the interim relief.

During the hearing, the court at first demonstrated that the matter might be heard in its entirety rather than the interim relief. It was found out if the police are prepared not to take any coercive move by enlisting FIRs under the amended provisions. In any case, Advocate General Prabhuling K Navadgi presented that a particular cover between time requests might hamper the registration of offenses identified with betting in cricket matches.

The state government by amending the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, denied and criminalized the playing of games of skill, including online games, by gambling money or in any case.

All India Gaming Federation and others have challenged the legislation asserting that games like poker, chess, rummy, fantasy sports are altogether games of skill, and different court orders have completely separated games of chance and games of skill. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, showing up for Rummy Federation, presented that the new legislation incorporates games of skill, despite the way that Supreme Court decisions and two high court decisions, including the new Madras high court and Kerala high court orders, unmistakably held against such a recommendation.

The Amending Act was passed by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on September 21, 2021. From that point, the Governor of Karnataka gave his consent on October 4, 2021, and it was advised and brought into power on October 5, 2021.

Credits: Deccan Herald