Legislation

India – Andhra Pradesh government to jail online gamblers

By Phil - 7 September 2020

The Andhra Pradesh government has moved to ban online gambling although it will not block any gambling apps or websites that offer stakes in poker or rummy.

State Information Minister Perni Venkataramaiah said it will make these activities a cognisable offence by changing the AP Gaming Act, 1974, meaning players will still be able to access these sites, but can be prosecuted if caught and could face six years in jail.

Organisers of online gambling activity could be jailed for a year, and for two years in case of repeated convictions.

Speaking to Medianama, Mr. Venkataramaiah said: “We have decided to ban all such online gambling to protect the youth. There are a lot of companies that are offering gambling serves online. They are taking our youth on the wrong path. This is why the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government has decided to make illegal all gambling activity like rummy and poker. These apps and websites will continue to offer their services. But we are asking our people not to indulge in them. Once certain people are caught and sent to jail, the other will fear participating in these activities.”

Kumar Vishwajeet, principal secretary at the state home department, added: “We are not saying we will block anything. We are saying that if we catch someone indulging in online gambling, we will put them in jail. The amendment [is] not for banning anything. Previously, when someone was playing it was a simple non-cognizable offence. Now, we have made it a cognizable, non-bailable offence. We have made it a stringent law. This amendment will not include fantasy leagues under the purview of gambling.”