AIGF challenges Tamil Nadu’s Online Rummy ban
26 Mar 2021
Tamil Nadu Gaming Act amendments face potential backlash
A little over a month has passed since the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, 1930, added gambling in “cyberspace.”
The Ordinance set to amend the gaming act stated that “no person shall wager or bet in games like Rummy or similar games played online using computers, any communication device, or any other instrument of gaming.”
Now, the All India Gaming Federation is challenging the ban’s constitutional validity before the Madras High Court.
AIGF challenges Tamil Nadu Rummy Ban | Poker and Rummy are games of skill
What is the main focus of the AIGF petition? Primarily the petition focuses on acknowledging online poker and Rummy as games of skill rather than real money “gambling.”
AIGF members currently self-regulate by using a “Charter on Online Games of Skill,” which ensures they offer only legal forms of games.
Some of the rules stated in the charter are:
- the charter allows only skill-based games;
- only states that allow games of skills can offer games;
- games can only be offered when relevant licenses have been acquired;
- games are not offered to people under 18 years of age;
- a Privacy Policy is in effect; and
- information on Responsible Gambling is available.
AIGF challenges Tamil Nadu Rummy Ban | The reasons for the challenge of the ban are many
Why does the Federation want to strike down sections 3A and 11 of the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, 1930?
Here’s a selection of the reasons:
- Poker is considered a game of skill, as per the 276th report released by The Law Commission of India.
- A majority of India’s states consider poker to be a game of skill.
- Poker competitions are business activities, thus protected under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
- That the TN government has exceeded its legislative competence.
- The phrase “any other game,” mentioned in Section 3A, is too vague to be considered constitutionally acceptable.
- The provisions create inequality by banning online casino poker while allowing physical poker. Article 14 of the Constitution demands equality.
The court is going to bring up the matter again on the 21st of April 2021.
