Chennai: Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has promulgated an ordinance to ban online gaming in the State, providing for the levy of a Rs 5,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment for those found to be engaging in it.
The ordinance would ban the persons who are wagering or betting in cyberspace using computers or any communication device or resource and the people who are found gaming will be punished with a fine of Rs 5000 and six months imprisonment.
The ordinance not only punishes people found gaming but also those who open or keep a common gaming house. They will be punished with a fine amount of Rs 10,000 and two years imprisonment.
It also bans electronic transfer of funds used for wagering or betting, distributing the winnings, prize money besides punishing the persons who are running the company which conducts online gaming by wagering and betting, a release stated.
“In order to avoid such incidents of suicide and protect innocent people from the evils of online gaming, the State government has submitted a proposal to the Governor to promulgate an ordinance by amending the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, 1930 (Tamil Nadu Act III of 1930), the Chennai City Police Act, 1888 (Tamil Nadu Act III of 1888) and the Tamil Nadu District Police Act, 1859 (Tamil Nadu Act XXIV of 1859),” an official statement said.