Karnataka Seeks To Ban Online Gaming After Three Other States

Karnataka is the fourth Indian state seeking to ban online games involving prize money after Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Karnataka has proposed a ban on online games involving betting and wagering, sparking concerns that growing state regulations could hit the nascent but booming sector.

Proposing an amendment to the Karnataka Police Act to include such online games, Karnataka is seeking to ban "any act of risking money, or otherwise, on the unknown result of an event, including on a game of skill," according to the bill seen by Reuters.

Many offences under the law already attract prison time, and the bill proposes to increase these penalties. The Karnataka government has said the bill is needed as the youth from rural areas, mostly idle in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic, "have shown a tendency of becoming habitual gamblers".

The proposed ban comes as online fantasy gaming platforms such as Tiger Global-backed Dream11 and Sequoia Capital-funded Mobile Premier League (MPL) that offer fantasy cricket and football games have become increasingly popular in India.