The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has passed the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to amend Karnataka Police Act, 1963, banning all forms of gambling in the state, including online gambling.
Key features of the Bill are:
- The bill seeks to make gambling a cognisable and non-bailable offence and “include the use of cyberspace including computer resources or any communication device as defined in the Information Technology Act, 2000 in the process of gaming to curb the menace of gaming through the internet, mobile apps”.
- The bill stipulates that “games mean and includes online games, involving all forms of wagering or betting, including in the form of tokens valued in terms of the money paid before or after the issue of it, or electronic means and virtual currency, electronic transfer of funds in connection with any game of chance.”
- The bill provides for a fine of Rs 10,000 and imprisonment of six months for first time offenders. For a second offence, violators would receive a jail term of one year and a fine of Rs 15,000.
*Tanvi Singh, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.