The Karnataka government has approached the Supreme Court to overturn the Karnataka High Court order quashing its ban on online gaming with real money stakes, according to a report in Economic Times. The High Court had struck down certain amendments in the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, which imposed a blanket ban on online gaming with money, in February this year. The state government, in its special leave petition (SLP), said that it needs the law to protect people from falling for online games and losing money, the report revealed. Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra told ET that the government drafted amendments as there were reports of large numbers of youth and their families in ruin after they used the money for betting on online games. “But the court struck down the amendments. We still think our response was right as many families have said the online betting menace has destroyed them financially. That is why we decided to move the Supreme Court,” Home Minister Jnanendra was quoted as saying. The move intensifies uncertainty looming large over the online gaming industry which has been trying to navigate different state laws for years now. It also underscores the need for a uniform policy on games with real money stakes Why has Karnataka approached the Supreme Court? The SC appeal by the state government seems to be necessitated by the Karnataka High Court’s (HC) order striking down the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act 2021 which banned online gaming (with stakes) and betting in the state.…
