CAIT to Karnataka govt: Bill proposing ban on online and skill gaming to hurt Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission – Times of India

The offline traders body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the Karnataka government to reconsider its proposed ban on online and skill gaming. In a letter written to the Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, CAI has said that the proposed ban will hurt Atma Nirbhar Bharat Mission. Recently, Karnataka government on tabled the bill in the assembly to ban online gambling or betting in the state and providing for imprisonment of up to three years or fine of of Rs one lakh for any violation.

In the letter, Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General, CAIT, said that the bill does not distinguish between ‘game of skills’ and ‘game of chance’. He said, “A game of chance is pure gambling, which is addictive and should be dealt with adequate legal procedures. On the other hand, a game of skill enables gamers to monetize their gaming talents and finesse. Once the bill bans online skill games, the law-abiding Indian companies will exit the market and the users will turn to harmful offshore and betting apps, which are harmful and dangerous,” he wrote in the letter.
Khandelwal added that the proposed ban on these apps will also affect Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Atmanirbhar Bharat project as illegal offshore betting and gambling apps would flourish while 90 gaming companies and developers with 4000 employees in Karnataka would be left to languish. Apart from this, there is a large ecosystem dependent on gaming, including marketers, developers, animators and broadcasters who would be adversely affected as well.
“The bill to ostensibly ban online gambling or betting also makes all online games of skill, which charge a small entry or registration fee, illegal. The bill only affects the Indian companies, which mostly charge a small registration fee to play their games, and will not affect other foreign games, where children spend thousands of rupees on in-app purchases. The bill will also prohibit Indian games like Chess, Carrom, Archery, Hockey and digital versions of traditional sports,” he wrote.