In a move from Andhra Pradesh government, an ordinance has been passed to ban online games like rummy, poker and fantasy games in the state that involve financial transactions. Neighbouring state Telangana already has such a law placed in the state.
IPL’s title sponsor Dream 11 is a fantasy game company and they will face a major loss due to this move. Andhra, the home of SunRisers Hyderabad has a major share of online gamers.
The decision came on September 25, where the Andhra Pradesh government banned all online gaming activities where consumers spend large sums of money without actually being able to control the outcome of the result.
Ban on Online games involving financial transactions in Andhra Pradesh
On September 25, the Andhra Pradesh government led by Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, passed an ordinance to amend the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act 1974. It came into force with immediate effect.
Naming it the Andhra Pradesh Gaming (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, the government of Andhra prohibited (i) collection or soliciting of bets; (ii) receipt or distribution of winning or prizes in money or otherwise in respect of any wager or bet; (iii) any act which is intended to aid, induce, solicit or facilitate wagering or betting or such collection, soliciting, receipt or distribution and (iv) any act of risking money or playing stakes or otherwise on the result of a game or an event including on a game of skill.
Mixed reactions on monetary online games banning by Andhra Pradesh Government banning
The public reaction on the banning of monetary online gaming has been mixed. Some people are against the move by the government while some favour it.
“The Andhra Pradesh Ordinance, which has criminalised any and all kinds of online betting and wagering, is a response to the growing socio-economic problems arising from online betting activities. Most states are yet to have any kind of response to these activities, and therefore the ordinance is welcome,”said Delhi-based lawyer, Siddharth Iyer.
“While banning these activities strictly may not be the best way to tackle the problem, it is certainly better than letting them run in an unregulated manner, as is the position, in most of the larger states in India,” pointed out Iyer.
Dream 11 has respected the government’s move and has restricted services from the banned areas.