Tamil Nadu CM Stalin Moves Another Bill To Ban Online Gambling, Regulate Gaming

The Bill will now be sent to Governor RN Ravi for his assent. 

The Bill was tabled by TN CM MK Stalin in the Assembly on Thursday (Credit: ABP Nadu) 

Tamil Nadu State Assembly readopted the Bill to ban online gambling games on Thursday. The Bill was tabled by TN CM MK Stalin in the Assembly. 

Tamil Nadu Assembly passed "The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill" for the second time. 

The Bill will now be sent to Governor RN Ravi for his assent. 

According to ANI, CM MK Stalin said, "The Online Gambling Prohibition Bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly on October 19, 2022 and was sent for the Governor's assent on October 26, 2022. On November 23, 2022, the Governor sought clarification and later the clarification was given. However after 131 days it was returned on March 6, 2023, seeking clarification."

Tamil Nadu | The Online Gambling Prohibition Bill was passed in the Legislative Assembly on October 19, 2022 and was sent for the Governor's assent on October 26, 2022. On November 23, 2022, the Governor sought clarification and later the clarification was given. However after… pic.twitter.com/UZ5W0nN5pC

— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2023

Stalin said: "This bill will be again sent to the governor. We may have political differences but lives are involved in online gambling. State Government has the right to take care of people. Union Minister Anurag Thakur himself has told Parliament that the state government has the right to bring a law against online gambling in response to a question asked by DMK MP SR Parthiban."

On March 6, the Governor returned Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill 2022. The note shared with the Bill reportedly said that the state Assembly does not have legislative competence. 

After the Bill was sent back, the political parties expressed their opposition to the Governor's action. 

On March 9, the state cabinet once again met and decided to resend the readopted bill for the assent of the Governor.

TN Law Minister Regupathy as per PTI said that the Governor was duty-bound to give his assent once the Bill was readopted in the Assembly.

The Bill was necessitated since Madras High Court struck down the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act 2021.

Till now, over 47 suicides have been reported due to the losses faced during online gambling games. 

Last week, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam as a form of protest sent the ash of people who died by suicide due to online gambling to the Governor. 

The protesters said that the "ash packets were sent to the Governor to make him realise the gravity of the issue".

Earlier, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that online gambling was a complex issue and several states and union territories have passed legislation against the practice. 

The Minister said that the Centre is concerned about the impact of online gambling games on society.

"This is a complex legal issue. As we have a consensus with the state governments, the Centre will come up with an act to regulate online gaming and gambling. It is important to create a consensus first and then come to Parliament," he said, as per IANS.