The IT Minister's statement was in response to a letter written by the Andhra Pradesh CM requesting the government to ban online gambling sites due to concerns of addiction and suicide. You're reading it here first: The union government is considering a "uniform approach" to regulating online gambling and real money gaming, according to a letter by the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology obtained by MediaNama. In the letter, written to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that "The subject of "betting and gambling" falls under the jurisdiction of the State Governments under Entries 34 and 62 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India," but that "the Government is cognizant of the issues arising because of different legislations in different States in the area of regulation of online gaming and the matter is under consideration to have a uniform approach on this matter." This acknowledgement — that the government is considering a centralised approach to regulating gambling and betting sites — is significant. While states have been changing their local gambling laws to regulate (or outlaw) online gambling and sites, the betting and gambling industry has been obtaining court orders (like the one issued by Madras High Court) that have made it difficult for states to restrict gambling and betting activities that require some skill. The Prime Minister's Office has shown interest in the issue, indicating that there could be movement on this front. It's not clear…
