Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi returned the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022 (L.A. Bill No. 53 of 2022) to the state on March 6, 2023, saying it was ultra vires the Constitution and against the judgments of courts1. The Bill had first been adopted in the Assembly on October 19, 20221. The Governor returned it after 131 days with some notes1.
The Bill was drafted based on the recommendations of a committee headed by the retired Madras High Court judge, Justice Chandru, and the School Education Department, and on consultations with others1. While reintroducing the Bill on March 23, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said:
"The Bill was drafted not only with our intelligence but also with our heart. We may have political differences, which is natural. But anyone with a heart will not have two views on banning online gambling, which has been claiming lives."
The Chief Minister also recalled Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur's statement in Parliament on March 21, 2023, that states were empowered to enact laws banning online gambling under Section 34 of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution1.
The Governor later granted his assent to the re-adopted Bill on Monday, April 10, 20231. Stalin said the assent was a "good consequence" of the resolution on the Governor adopted by the Assembly earlier in the day, and said the law would be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette the same day1. The resolution noted how Tamil Nadu's administration and the future of youngsters were being affected by the pendency of many Bills, including the one on online rummy, and referred to controversial opinions shared by the Governor in the public domain1.
What it means for players
The Bill covers online gambling and the regulation of online games in Tamil Nadu, and its passage followed a period in which the Governor had withheld assent on constitutional grounds1. The text of the law, its commencement date and the penalties it carries have not been reported in the source material. Players in the state, whether residents, expatriates or visitors, have no published detail on how the prohibition will be enforced, which operators or game types fall inside it, or what happens to money already held on online sites. The Hindu's report notes that assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state's health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416 and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline 044-246400501.
What happens next
The Chief Minister said the law would be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette on April 10, 20231. No further steps, rules or enforcement dates have been reported.
For the wider legal position, see Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions and Is Online Gambling Legal in Asia? The 12 Jurisdictions Compared. For India specifically, see Can I Gamble in India?.
