Allahabad High Court calls for overhaul of online gambling laws in India
The court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to form a committee to assess regulation.
India.- The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to establish a committee to explore the regulation of online gaming and betting. It cited inadequacy of India’s current gambling laws.
Justice Vinod Diwaker said the Public Gambling Act of 1867 fails to address the complexities of modern, virtual gambling environments. The act, which was created to regulate physical gambling houses and card games, makes no mention of digital platforms or cross-border financial transactions.
The court’s directive follows a plea from two people seeking the dismissal of charges related to alleged online betting in Agra. Quashing proceedings on procedural grounds, the court said the absence of clear legal definitions and penalties for online gambling presented serious regulatory gaps.
The proposed committee would be headed by Professor K.V. Raju, economic advisor to the Uttar Pradesh government.
“There is a lack of clarity on the legal status of fantasy sports, poker, and e-sports,” the court said, adding that many platforms operate across state and national boundaries, complicating enforcement.
