Onus on States to regulate gambling websites: GOI
The central government clarified that it is the responsibility of the states to regulate the websites related to gambling.
- In Avinash Mehrotra v Union of India & Ors case, the Central Government has informed the Delhi High Court that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is not liable to regulate online gaming.
- The petition claims that the online gambling system in India is unregulated. It has also become a suitable medium for hawala operations, money laundering etc.
- It is to be known that gambling is a subject of the State List under Entry 34 of List-II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
- Additionally, the states of Sikkim, Nagaland, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have already enacted laws that specifically regulate online gaming, but their enforcement has not been satisfactory.
- The Law Commission in its 2018 report had recommended regulation of gambling and betting. It recommended that Parliament may frame a model law for the regulation of gambling, which could be adopted by the states.
- Parliament can also make laws under Article 249 (in the national interest) or Article 252 (if two or more states agree).
- According to this, with regard to online gambling and betting, Parliament also has the capacity to make laws.
About online gaming:
- In general, online gambling means using the Internet to place bets and earn money. It is similar to gambling in a casino, but the difference between the two is that online gambling is done through a virtual medium.
- This includes playing poker, sports games, casino games, etc. Users can place bets through online payment modes like Credit Card, Debit Card, Internet Banking or UPI (Most Used Option).
Source – The Hindu
