Even as the debate on whether online rummy and poker are purely games of skill continues in media circles, the Madras High Court ruled on November 9, 2023 that the Tamil Nadu government’s ban on online gaming cannot extend to games of skill, including online rummy and poker, and can only apply to games of chance.
Bar & Bench reported that the court set aside parts of the law that extended the ban to online games such as rummy and poker.
The TN Prohibition of Online Gaming and Regulation of Online Games Act 2022 made games like poker for rummy for real money punishable offences, for players and those offering the games online.
Gaming companies argued that the TN Government can only regulate online games, not ban them. They also stated that there is no data to support claims of addiction.
Lead petitioner in the case All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) welcomed the judgement, saying it was in line with six decades of jurisprudence on the subject.
Roland Landers, CEO, AIGF, hailed the decision ‘for upholding the difference between games of skill and chance in line with over six decades of jurisprudence on the subject’.
The AIGF statement reads as follows:
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