Bombay High Court To Examine Whether Ludo Is A Game Of Chance Or Skill, Sends Notice To State Govt

The Bombay High Court is all set to examine whether Ludo is a game of chance or skill and has also sent a notice to the Maharashtra government after an MNS politician K R Muley filed a petition seeking an FIR against an online Ludo company under Prevention of Gambling Act, Times of India has reported.

The petition alleges that this Ludo portal gives a chance to players to win real money and appeals a magistrate court's dismissal of the petition back in February. The court had held that Ludo is a game of skill and thus the said provisions under the Gambling Act are not applicable to it.

The complaint was initially filed in November 2020 when the MNS politician allegedly saw children playing online Ludo with money.

"There is an entry fee to join a table in the online mode and a portion of the fee is remitted to the game app. It appears no player has control over what the dice rolls out, “the app and algorithm used by it” having a possible control over the roll of the dice “cannot be disregarded’’ and needs investigation", the petition states.

The petition claims that Ludo is a game of chance and the Gambling act is applicable to it and that only the High Court can examine the "larger issue and substantial question of law on what the game constitutes". It adds that playing ludo for stakes amounts to gambling and should attract Section 4 of Gambling Act as offence for opening common gaming house for profit.

The Bombay High Court has adjourned the matter to 22 June.