Nagpur Chamber of Commerce has appealed to the Government of India to ban online betting and gaming. The Chamber has appealed to include gambling, cricket betting, and illegal online and offline gaming under PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act).
President Govind Pasari, ex-President Kailash Jiogani, Secretary Tarun Nirban, Treasurer Vasant Paliwal, Vice-president Vijay Jaiswal, former President V Pacheriwal, Mahendra Kataria, Joint Secretary Vivek Murarka, Purushottam Thakre, Nikhil kakani, Jagtap Pandhari and others have made the appeal to the Centre.
The gaming laws are confusing. If skill is involved in gaming or betting, it could be legal. The Supreme Court has exempted online rummy and some other games. However, many fall victim to these games and lose huge money. Children and youth also fall victim to these games and commit suicide. Online gaming has also led to extortion, murders and other anti-social activities.
The punishment in Maharashtra for gaming is very low – a fine of Rs 200 and imprisonment of one month. This has increased gaming in the Vidarbha region. The Nagpur Chamber of Commerce has appealed to immediately ban online gaming.