Tamil Nadus Appeal Against Madras HC Order Nullifying Online Rummy and Poker Ban Will Be Heard by SC

OVERVIEW The state government's prior appeal, which was filed in 2022, was combined with the plea by the SC. The prior appeal contested a different HC ruling that nullified the 2021 anti-gambling statute. The Madras High Court declared in November 2023 that skill-based games like online poker and rummy could not be prohibited by the Tamil Nadu anti-online gambling Act. This comes at a time when the GST Council's 28% GST is already having a devastating effect on the Indian online gaming industry, leading to closures and layoffs.According to reports, the Tamil Nadu government filed an appeal with the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday, February 5, challenging a Madras High Court (HC) ruling that invalidated the state's online gambling legislation.The Madras High Court declared in November 2023 that skill-based games like online poker and rummy could not be outlawed under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022.

The Tamil Nadu government's 2022 appeal, which opposed the Madras High Court's ruling that invalidated the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act of 2021, which had placed a ban on internet gaming, has been brought to the supreme court.20 hours priorOn February 5, the Supreme Court decided to consider the Tamil Nadu government's appeal against the Madras High Court ruling that invalidated the section of the state's online gambling statute that forbade skill-based games like online poker and rummy.The Tamil Nadu government's 2022 appeal, which opposed the Madras High Court's ruling that invalidated the Tamil Nadu Gaming and Police Laws (Amendment) Act of 2021, which had placed a ban on internet gaming, has been brought to the supreme court. It is not yet known when the matter will next be heard.Online rummy and poker were outlawed by the Tamil Nadu government earlier this month. The laws classified the two games as online games of chance, placing them under the jurisdiction of online gambling. In India, gambling is a state subject. This resulted in a disagreement about who has the authority to enact laws on the matter between the Union and the State as well.