Tamil Nadu's Online Gaming Act Will Only Apply To Games Of Chance And Not Games Of Skill Like Rummy And Poker: Madras High Court

The First Division Bench of the Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice PD Audikesavalu today (9 November) refused to strike down the entire Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022.

It stated that the Act would only apply to "games of chance" and not games of skill such as rummy and poker.

The constitutional validity of the law was challenged by the All India Gaming Federation and a number of online gaming companies such as A23, Junglee Rummy and Gameskraft.

According to a report by The Hindu, the bench said, “The prayer to declare the entire Act as ultravires the Constitution is negated. However, the schedule of the Act including the games of rummy and poker are set aside. Section 2(l)(4) of the Act may be read as restricted to games of chance and not involving games of skill namely rummy and poker.”

Chief Justice Gangapurwala also informed that the Bench felt that the state government had the power to make regulations regarding the time and the age of the players playing online games.