India needs new laws for online betting, Allahabad High Court says

The court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to form a committee headed by Economic Advisor Prof. K.V. Raju to tackle the issue.

India.- The Allahabad High Court has called for new laws to govern online betting and gaming in India. The court said the Public Gambling Act of 1897 is outdated and no longer suitable for regulating today’s online betting and modern platforms.

The court directed the Uttar Pradesh government to form a committee headed by Economic Advisor Prof. K.V. Raju to tackle the issue. The committee’s members will include professionals with expertise in technology, finance, law enforcement, and taxation.

They will assess the current state of online gaming and betting and develop recommendations for a legal framework to regulate the venture and minimize adverse effects. The court also instructed the registrar to forward a copy of the order to the chief secretary of the state government for compliance.

The remarks were made during the hearing of a petition filed by Imran Khan and others challenging the criminal proceedings against them under the Public Gambling Act. A case was filed against the petitioners at Mantola police station in Agra three years ago, claiming that they were running an online betting operation from their residence. Police had raided the premises and seized a tablet allegedly used for online betting.

The petitioners’ lawyer argued that the alleged offence was non-cognizable and that the investigation was flawed because the investigating officer failed to obtain prior permission from a Magistrate, as required by law.

The Public Gambling Act prescribes a maximum punishment of 12 months imprisonment and a fine of ₹2,000 (€20.65) for violators. However, the law is ambiguous regarding online games like fantasy sports, poker, and e-sports.