Online Gambling: High Court sends notice to Centre, wants reply in 3 weeks

The High Court of Madras has ordered notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking a ban on all sorts of online gambling websites and apps.

Admitting the Public Interest Writ Petition filed by Lawyer A P Suryaprakasam on Tuesday, a division bench of Justice M M Sundresh & Justice R Hemalatha directed the Central Govt to file its reply in 3 weeks. 

Suryaprakasam wanted the Court to direct the authorities to prosecute cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Tamannaah for endorsing such websites & apps as it allegedly amounts to abetment to gamble, which is a criminal offence.

He said that “To hook innocent youngsters to play the games, they engage the services of cricketers like Kohli & actors like Tamannaah".

According to the petitioner, such unethical & immoral online gambling is being promoted online by various antisocial elements promising people with an initial bonus of several thousands. 

Youngsters who fall for the initial bonus offered, ultimately start to spend their hard-earned money or that of their family members. Subsequently, they suffer heavy losses & resort to take loans at exorbitant interest & end up committing crimes to raise money, he added. “When they are not able to return or repay the debt they commit suicide.”

Asserting that such online gambling games are similar to that of ‘blue whale’ game which has been banned in the country, the advocatewantedthecourtto intervene & direct the Central & State Govts to ban such games.

He further submitted that the Court must pass such order in the interest of society & to protect the honour & dignity of youngsters. 

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