A Karnataka High Court bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Krishna S Dixit was hearing a group of petitions challenging the constitutional legitimacy of the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act 2021, by which the state government has restricted all online betting and wagering and given maximum detainment of three years and punishment up to Rs 1 lakh for violation of the provisions.

Looking for a stay of the new amendment, Singhvi said that there is a difference between a game of chance and a game of skill. The game of chance alone can be managed for being prohibited by state authorities. Nonetheless, State legislatures have no jurisdiction to boycott games of skill.

In addition, he added that games of skill are prevalently a game of skill. Whenever you say the game of chance, it implies that the ‘chance’ factor is involved.

This separated, he informed that a platform organizer can never play the game himself. The virtual organization additionally turns out to be more focused and straightforward than when a similar game is played truly as specific harmful exercises might sneak in.

Referring to a model, Singhvi said, in any game, there is a component of chance, to the degree of giving over the chance. Nonetheless, it would be inappropriate to say that the chance doesn’t imply that Bridge or Rummy is certainly not a game of skill.

Simply because there is a chance doesn’t make it a less skillful game of skill, Singhvi fought.

The Amendment Act came into power on October 5, restricting all types of betting or wagering, including all types of tokens valued in terms of money paid before or after the issue of it. It has banned electronic means and virtual currency, electronic transfer of funds in connection with any game of ‘chance’. Nonetheless, there is no restriction on lottery or wagering on horse races on any racecourse inside or outside Karnataka.

The matter will be next heard on November 18.

Case Name: All India Gaming Federation v. the State Of Karnataka

Credits: Rediff