Tamil Nadu: Panel calls for new law to regulate games like online rummy

The AIADMK government has already passed the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act of 2021 in the assembly.

The law banned online rummy, but the Madras High Court struck down the amendments calling the law unconstitutional for want of scientific data on the subject.

Suicides fuel panel creation

Stalin had formed the committee against the backdrop of people in the state dying by suicide after incurring losses by gambling on the internet through apps that promote online rummy.

A 29-year-old woman in Chennai ended her life on 5 June after reportedly losing close to ₹10 lakh in one such app.

The committee was set up to investigate the games’ influence on people, their financial losses, and resulting suicides.

It was also tasked with examining the social impact of the advertisement of such games on players.

The committee was, on 10 June, given two weeks to submit a report to the chief minister.

One of the committee members told South First on condition of anonymity that they recommended in the report that the government ban all online card games.

The committee member also said they could not reveal more information about the report citing various reasons.

“We recommended that the state government urge the Central government to bring a new law banning online rummy using Article 252 of the Constitution,” said the member.

The individual also said the panel would address the reporters soon.

Political background

Former chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami, who passed the 2021 law, has urged the Stalin regime to immediately ban games like online rummy.

என வெளிப்படையாக எச்சரிக்கும் நிலையிலும் கூட, இந்த உயிர்க்கொல்லி ஆன்லைன் சூதாட்டங்களை தடைசெய்ய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்காதது ஏன்?

யாருடைய அழுத்தத்தால் இந்த தயக்கம்?

இன்னும் எத்தனை உயிர்களை தெரிந்தே கொல்லப்போகிறது இந்த ஆன்லைன் சூதாட்டம்?

2/2 pic.twitter.com/73FLXKjYao

— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@EPSTamilNadu) June 6, 2022

BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran accused the panel of being an eyewash.

He told South First that the government had all the powers to pass an ordinance in the Assembly but instead formed a panel to sit on the issue. It showed the lack of seriousness in the government, he said.

He also said that the BJP MLAs would strongly demand a ban on games like online rummy.

A DMK spokesperson told South First that the party was concerned about people and would pass an ordinance once the committee submitted its report.

Psychiatrist Dr Sivabalan told South First that the government should ban online games where people stake money.

He said fake advertisements have deceived many people who started playing such games.

“Most working professionals are addicted to games like this, and they find respite in them from their workplaces. They bet colossal amounts of money to play the game, and once they started to lose, they bet even more money, resulting in spending a lot,” he explained.

“However, if they lose more, they get into depression and are scared to share this with others. In extreme cases, they tend to lose their mind and die by suicide,” said the doctor.