Pass legislation to regulate online gaming: Madras HC to govt

CHENNAI: Observing that online games lure the unemployed youth with the promise that they can earn money, the Madras high court on Friday said it hopes that the state government will take note of the present alarming situation and pass suitable legislation to regulate and control them through licence.


The court passed the order while quashing an FIR registered against a government school teacher for playing cards in a farmland in Tirunelveli district in June.


Justice B Pugalendhi raised a query to police that when they are very particular in implementing the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act by registering a case even if a person is playing cards near a thorny bush, how is online rummy permitted in the state.

The judge said an assistant inspector general of police, who filed a status report on behalf of the director general of police, stated there was no rule to regulate and licence online games such as rummy, bridge, poker and fantasy sports.