Junglee challenges Tamil Nadu online gambling ban

The Madras High Court has ordered the state’s government to respond to Indian gaming firm’s petition by December 21.

India.- The Madras High Court has refused to grant an interim stay on Tamil Nadu’s online gambling ban.

Gurugram-based gaming firm Junglee sought the stay after the state made online gambling a criminal offense in a reaction to several suicides provoked by gambling problems.

Online rummy and similar games now carry legal consequences that range from fines of Rs5,000 (US$64.45) to six months imprisonment. Promotors of games could be fined Rs 10,000 (US$135) or receive up to two years in jail.

The court rejected Junglee’s request for a stay but said the state government to respond to the company’s petition by December 21.

Junglee’s legal counsellors said that the company carries out legal operations, noting that online gambling is still legal in other states.

The company, which has 300 employees insisted that rummy, one of the most popular games in India, is a skill-based game and not a game of chance. It argued that the game is played in many clubs in the country and that it made no sense to ban only the online form of the game.

According to The Hindu, Junglee charges a service fee of between 9 and 15 per cent depending on the stakes, but there’s no betting on the outcome of the play. Under this format, Junglee offers tournaments, points rummy and pool rummy.