Karnataka to bring its own law due to concerns over revenue loss : Minister Priyank Kharge

• Case of ban on ‘Online Money Gaming’

• Karnataka holds a 30% share in India’s online gaming sector

• In the last 2.5 years, 32 people in the State have committed suicide due to losing money in online gaming

Bengaluru (Karnataka) – Karnataka alone accounts for as much as 30% of India’s online money gaming sector. With the Union Government imposing a complete ban on online money gaming, Karnataka is set to lose a legal source of revenue. On this issue, Karnataka is considering bringing its own law, Priyank Kharge, the State’s Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology, said. In the past 2.5 years, the Karnataka Police have registered 1,193 cases related to online gambling. During this period, at least 32 people committed suicide due to losses in online gambling.

Just last week, after both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha approved the ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill’, President Droupadi Murmu also gave her assent, turning it into law. This central law has banned all forms of online money gaming.

Statements by Priyank Kharge

1. The Supreme Court is still hearing the case on whether online gaming is a State or the Centre’s issue. Yet, the Union Government hastily passed this law. (With this statement, Kharge is showing blatant disregard for democracy – Editor). A ban is not the solution. We will evaluate this and hold discussions with the Home Department and the Chief Minister.

2. Karnataka has drafted a proposal to license ‘games of skill’, requiring establishments to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering rules. However, the State Government is proposing a ban on ‘games of chance’.

3. India has over 2,000 gaming companies, which generate about 2,00,000 direct and indirect jobs. Skilled labour will be affected. (But what about the people who commit suicide after losing money in this business ? There are many better ways to earn money. Is earning through such means ethical ? – Editor).

4. In the past few years, the gaming sector has attracted ₹23,000 crore in direct foreign investment. Despite a large digital population, if there is no local market, many global investors will withdraw their investments.

Editorial Perspective

The Congress Government in Karnataka, which is supposed to raise revenue for the benefit of the people, is instead pushing its own people to their deaths. Just as a complete ban was imposed on online money gaming, a similar ban should now be imposed on this anti-people Congress party !