While most forms of gambling are still illegal in the major part of India, both Goa and Sikkim are licensed to limited forms of legal gambling

The government in Andhra Pradesh announced that it has banned online?betting?games, including poker and rummy.?Under the new regulations, organizers of online gambling games could be jailed for up to one year.

The New Indian Express?reported, the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister YS?Jagan?Mohan Reddy has approved amendments to AP Gaming Act 1974?to ban online gambling.?According to the?Information and Public Relations Minister,?Perni?Venkataramaian,?the measure has been taken to protect the state’s young people, and to prevent gambling addiction.

Venkataramaiah?said those?caught playing online betting games would face?a jail term?of six months, while organizers?of online gambling?would be imprisoned for a year, for first-time offenses, and two years?for the repeat offenders.?

According to?Times Now Digital,?there has been?a rapid increase?in online gambling in India?amidst?the Covid-19 lockdown. It?cited reports that showed?a?significant growth of 21% in?the?online gambling?industry?in India. Some sites have set?new records for traffic and revenue during 2020.?

Earlier this year, State President?Somu?Veerraju’s?requested to ban iGaming across the state, citing concerns over financial hardship among the state’s 49.8 million inhabitants and a potential for increased problem gambling rates.?

New measures have been put in place in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh which impose a blanket ban on online gambling, targeting direct restrictions on online poker and rummy services.?

Meanwhile, India’s business community?wait?for the Modi government to?seal?its reform of the ‘2000 Information Technology Act’, in which new federal amendments and protections are anticipated on consumer laws, data protection and digital services.?Andhra Pradesh, a state on the southeastern coast of India, has over 49.3 million?inhabitants.?

SiGMA Americas:

Following the successful launch of SiGMA Europe (Malta) and SiGMA Asia (Manila), we’re now launching the inaugural SiGMA AMERICAS, covering all three major timezones. The inaugural edition is set for September 22-24, 2020 with a virtual summit focusing on two themes: SiGMA AMERICAS for the Gaming industry and AIBC AMERICAS for the Emerging Tech industry.?We wanted to provide fresh content, to help you navigate through these turbulent times. If you’re exploring Americas as a new frontier or wondering which tech solutions to embrace, we’ve got you covered:?tune in?on September?22-24, 2020.