Chennai, Sept 26 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu cabinet on Monday approved the ordinance banning online gaming. The government in a statement on Monday said that the  ordinance will be promulgated after getting the assent of Governor R.N. Ravi.

The Madras High court had struck down the state’s ban on online games like online rummy and poker with stakes. The Tamil Nadu government had appealed to the Supreme court and the apex court had issued notice on the petition filed by the state government challenging the order of the Madras High Court.

The state government had before the apex court stated that teenagers and youths were losing their entire earnings and savings by indulging in online games. The government in the petition also said that while rummy could be considered a game with skills, by placing stakes it had turned into gambling.

It may be noted that the state government had constituted a committee headed by Madras High Court retired Judge, Justice Chandru to study the adverse effects of online games. The committee had placed its report to Chief Minister in two weeks and had recommended the ban of online games with stakes.

The committee also recommended that the state government ban advertisements that encourage people to play such online games. Justice Chandru committee also in its report asked the state government to insist on the Union government enact a national-level law against online gaming with stakes under Article 252 of the Constitution.