The Chief Minister of Bhopal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has declared the Madhya Pradesh government’s intent to enact a new Gambling Act, specifically designed to impose comprehensive regulations targeting online casino gambling. The primary objective of this legislation is to address the issue of gambling addiction, a concern not adequately covered by the existing 1876 law.
Casino News India: Stringent Gambling Laws in India India maintains rigorous laws across all jurisdictions, predominantly prohibiting gambling with the threat of disciplinary measures. The National Public Gambling Act of 1867 governs gambling in the country, allowing each state to formulate its own regulations and legislation with certain exceptions. Despite these stringent measures, India sees an annual revenue of $60 billion from both legal and illicit gambling activities.
Casino News India: Prevalence of Problem Gambling Recent studies indicate that at least 38% of gamblers in India may be susceptible to problem gambling. While further research is needed to validate these findings, they underscore the pervasive issue of problem gambling in India, exacerbated by the absence of specific legislation addressing online casino gambling.
Casino News India: Impact of Online Gaming on Gambling Addiction The rise of online casino gambling significantly contributes to the expansion of the gambling sector and the concurrent growth of gambling addiction. The widespread availability of the internet has created numerous avenues for gambling, fostering a culture of inherently illicit practices that prove challenging to monitor and enforce.
Casino News India: Imperative for Re-Regulation The current legislation’s failure to acknowledge the diverse forms of gambling represents a substantial oversight with broader socio-economic implications. The introduction of the new Gambling Act in Madhya Pradesh assumes paramount importance in combatting online casino gambling and addressing the prevalent issue of gambling addiction in India. The government intends to impose severe penalties for violations of the new act, aiming for a comprehensive regulatory framework for the gambling sector.
