Just about a couple of weeks after Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi returned the bill to regulate online gambling in the state and to ban it, the Tamil Nadu Government has taken the bold step of passing the bill and thereby banning online gambling.
“I stand in this House with a heavy heart. 41 people have died after losing money in online gambling,” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, upon passing the bill in the assembly of Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill has been passed again and this would play a huge role in the regulation of the laws in the Southern state of India.
Notably, the assembly of Tamil Nadu first passed this bill on 19th October 2022 after there was a sharp increase in the number of deaths in Tamil Nadu due to online gambling. But there was no stringent action taken by the assembly up until 6th March 2023.
The catalyst for this was the death of a 37-year-old man by suicide after he had taken a huge loan for online gambling and he failed to repay it. Several representatives of the loan company had hurled abuses at him for not being able to repay the debt on time and there was a barrage of calls, threats, and harassment.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin further said that the state has the right to “streamline, regulate and protect people” living within the jurisdiction of Tamil Nadu.
He further urged all the parties, members, and politicians to support the bill and said no lives should be lost further due to online gambling.
“This government cannot function without a conscience. One more life should not be lost and one more family shouldn’t be out on the streets because of the evils of online gambling,” said M.K. Stalin.
The Bill was formulated based on the suggestions of Madras High Court Judge K Chandu and students, parents and teachers were also consulted.
M.K. Stalin and the state of Tamil Nadu’s bold and aggressive step further highlights the fact that online gambling should be done in moderation. If a person steps into the unchartered territory of getting addicted to online gambling, then problems arise.
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