Online gambling apps, including online rummy, may come under scrutiny in Gujarat with the Gujarat High Court considering a petition asking for such games to be banned, and for the gambling law to be amended to prevent online gambling. A writ petition, filed by advocate Amit Nair from Ahmedabad, asked the court to ban/restrict online gambling, particularly online rummy, and declare it illegal in the state under the provisions of the Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887. The court also seemed to agree with the petitioner that a comprehensive regulatory framework is necessary to regulate and curb gambling/rummy. Bhargav Hasukar, Nair's lawyer, had also said that ads for gambling websites are commonplace online and on social media. They entice people “with small amount as credit to start playing rummy promising lakhs of rupees in return”. Directing the Gujarat government to consider the petition as a representation, the court said it expects that the state government to promptly look into the issues, take the appropriate decision as per laws and regulations “in larger public interest before it is too late”. The state government’s counsel, Manisha Luvkumar Shah, said the government “shall look into the same at the earliest in accordance with the law”. The court said that even though it cannot direct the state government to enact a particular type of legislation, it can always draw its attention to the matter, which it considered "an important topic in public interest". The order was passed by a bench consisting of Justice Vikram Nath…
