Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday categorically termed online gaming nothing but gambling.
Addressing the media at the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council held in Chandigarh, Nirmala Sitharaman said casinos, horse-racing, and online gaming are all gambling.
Whether it is horse-racing or online gaming or casinos, the common thread that the Committee highlighted was they are part of betting and gaming.
In other words, they are essentially gambling. There may be an element of skill in it or an element of chance in it. But essentially, all the three are gambling, Nirmala Sitharaman said.