On May 23, the Supreme Court of India said it will review a plea calling for a complete ban on what the petitioner described as illegal betting apps. The petitioner seeks tougher rules on online gaming and fantasy sports. They also call for a clear law to regulate what they claim operates under the guise of skill-based gaming.
The Economic Times says that a bench made up of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh issued a notice to the Centre, asking for its response. Yet, they decided not to involve the state governments just yet.
The petitioner, a prominent social activist and humanitarian, identified himself as the President of the Global Peace Initiative, an organization dedicated to promoting peace and justice worldwide. According to him, he filed the PIL or Public Interest Litigation to protect millions of people in the country through banning these illegal betting platforms.
The petition also cited an FIR registered in March in the southern state of Telangana to support the case. It targeted 25 Bollywood celebrities, cricketers, as well as influencers, accusing them of misleading the public through promoting betting apps.
The petition highlighted a news report about a tragic series of events in Telangana. It stated that 24 people reportedly died by suicide. These individuals fell into debt from online betting.
The petitioner filed the plea directly with the Supreme Court to protect Indian youth and other vulnerable individuals. The plea aims to shield them from the dangers of unregulated online betting and gambling. It claims that these activities often disguise themselves as fantasy sports or skill-based games.
According to the claimant, he took this move in the larger public interest. His goal is to safeguard the youth of India from the unregulated, exploitative, and dangerous online betting industry. This industry operates under the guise of fantasy sports and skill-based gaming.
