Telangana Cabinet passed an Ordinance amending the Telangana Gaming Act, 1974 to ban online gambling on June17, the ramifications of which are seen not only on rummy but also on online cricket.
According to the ordinance gambling involves any activity which is determined on the basis of chance, where consideration has to be paid or awards a prize. Dream11 a game love by cricket fanatics has been banned in Telangana as a consequence of this ordinance. A lot of users are claiming that it is not an online game.
The gaming app on its website stated that “With regard to Assam, Odisha and Telangana, the laws in these states are unclear as to whether games of skill may be played for a fee”
However, as per the reports, the ordinance applies to skill games as well. The game endorsed by Harsha Bhogle is no longer available to users of Telangana.
The violator would incur criminal penalties, which could range from a fine of rupees 5000 for the first offence to an imprisonment for a second offence.
The first state in the country to categorise rummy, poker skills games as gambling, was troubled over the rising number of complaints against online gambling and consequently took a strict action.