Madras high court Strikes down the entire amendment to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act quashing the ban on online games

On Tuesday, the Madras High court passed a judgment striking down in its entirety the amendment to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act which banned online games including online rummy and online poker and other skill-based games which involves stakes. The Madras HC said, this Court is not against these games, and stated that nothing in this order will prevent the government from introducing appropriate legislation on the issue conforming to Constitutional principles of propriety.

Commenting on the judgment Mr. Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation states, “We welcome the order of the Madras High Court which iterates that the Court is not against online gaming, and calls for the government to devise a regulatory framework to provide clarity to the sunrise online gaming industry with a view to encourage investments leading to technological advancements as well as generation of revenue and employment.”

Mr. Landers further added, “As the oldest online skill gaming industry body, the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has most of the stakeholders of the online gaming industry as its members. We at AIGF have been at the forefront of ensuring global best practices for its stakeholders through the self-regulation skill games charter that cover all aspects of the online gaming business, overseen by an advisory of experts. To reinforce its process, AIGF has also partnered with Arthur D. Little (ADL) and looks forward to wholeheartedly supporting and offering its expertise and experience if required to the Government in this endeavor”

Back in 2018, The All India Gaming Federation released the Skill games charter which is based on the four foundations of integrity, legality, global best practices and good governance. The charter focuses entirely on player protection, responsible gaming including guidelines for marketing and advertising. Through the adoption of principles and the disciplinary process, the AIGF has built a self-regulatory community and facilitative ecosystem for the offer of online games of skill in a transparent and fair manner, with due regard for consumer and stakeholder interests.

With the exponential growth seen in the industry over the last 3 years and the addition of newer business verticals like digital eSports, AIGF felt the need to strengthen its self-regulatory process by adopting compliance audits. To reinforce its self-regulation process, AIGF recently announced its partnership with Arthur D. Little (ADL), the oldest and world-renowned international management consulting firm. The association will help AIGF through extensive compliance audits for all its members.

In addition to this, AIGF Advisory Board consists of eminent experts like Justice Vikramajit Sen, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ms. Fatema Agarkar, leading educationist & Founder of the Agarkar Centre of Excellence (ACE) combing sports and education, and Ms. Jhulan Goswami, Indian International Cricketer and the former captain of the Indian National women’s cricket.