Blanket Ban On Online Games Not The Key, Feel Industry Insiders

The day after the Madras High Court rejected the state government amendment to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act of 1930, which prohibits online games with stakes, the Minister of Law S Reghupathy announced that the new legislation would soon be enacted to prohibit games. However, industry insiders claim that the ban will not solve the problem. The government should not completely ban online gambling, including Lamy, but should formulate strict policies to regulate games. Industry experts said that the comprehensive ban will cause greater damage because it will promote illegal games with stakes in the country. The Online Rummy Federation CEO Sameer Barde stated that after Telangana banned online rummy in 2017, the state began reporting large-scale illegal online gambling activities (worth more than Rs 1.2 billion) by a Chinese company. "This proves that the ban will only cause more harm. On the contrary, the government should plan a regulatory framework to protect the public interest. We (the company) hope to cooperate with the government to help them formulate policies," Barde added. At the same time, Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation, believes that the government should design a regulatory framework to bring clear information to the emerging online gaming industry to encourage companies that can bring breakthrough technologies and generate revenue and career opportunities at the same time. Industry experts added that India’s online gaming industry is worth 4 billion rupees and is growing rapidly. It has great potential, and with the right support and clear regulation, the industry can create jobs for many people. Credits: The Indian Express