Through many centuries, different types of games played for real money stakes had emerged in India, until games of chance were outlawed in 1867 by a Gaming Act, Known as The Public Gaming Act of 1867, the law recognizes only games of skills as the only form of legal gambling recreation. However, in recent years, several Indian promulgated laws to prohibit gambling activities, including wagering on games of skills in their respective jurisdictions.
Operators in India’s offline and online games of skills industry have no choice but to abide by the state laws. Yet many believe that imposing a blanket ban even on games of skills infringes on their right to operate a business recognized as legal under The Public Gaming Act.
The States of Nagaland and Sikkim Recognize Games of Skills as Legal but Only if Compliant with Mandatory State Requisites
Although the Supreme Court of India upheld petitions for a ruling in support of the legality of offering games of skills like rummy, poker and fantasy sports, the states of Nagaland and Skiikim expanded their Gaming Act with statutes that drew a different line in distinguishing legal and illegal games of skills,
What Nagaland Considers as Legal Online Games of Skills?
As advancements in technology made gambling and gaming entertainment accessible via the Intranet, Nagaland legislated laws that require a separate gaming licence and regulatory oversight. To protect its citizens against unscrupulous operators and international gambling syndicates, oversight of online gaming platforms for rummy, fantasy sports and poker have been deemed necessary. The purpose of which is to make certain that the games of skills platform will not include games of chance like online casino slots, crap, roulette and other card games like baccarat and blackjack.
A Nagaland gaming regulator will be responsible in monitoring the operations and games of gaming rooms and online gaming platforms to ensure compliance with Nagaland’s statutes and with the federal government’s Anti Moaney Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Acts.
What the State of Sikkim Considers as Legal Online Games of Skill
The state of Sikkim likewise recognizes wagering om fantasy sports, rummy and poker as legal games of skills but subject to statutes similar to those imposed by the state of Nagaland. However, the Sikkim government is more rigid as it requires that all offering of online games of skills must be confined within the state’s territorial jurisdictions. The restriction therefore prohibits the operation of networked gaming machines as they can be accessed by terminals located beyond the boundaries of the state.
In both cases, licensing and regulations require the payment of fees in addition to the payment of mandatory taxes on gross gaming revenues and on prizes won by players, Since operators of online games of skill platforms are finding it difficult to sustain operations, many simply opted out by not accepting players from Nagaland and Sikkim; as well as from other states that do not recognize the legality of rummy, poker or fantasy sports.
A mobile rummy player for one who is signing in via the Junglee Rummy login page will likely fail if he does so while physically located in any of the prohibiting Indian states, namely Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland, Telangana, Odesha and most recently Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.