EPWA, India’s esports athletes’ body, has urged the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport, rather than lumping them in with gambling, and to provide safe harbour for professional players, a senior EPWA official said on Friday. “On August 13, we sent a representation to the state government. We have asked the Tamil Nadu government to recognise skill games as a distinct sport separate from gambling and to provide a safe haven for professional players “Shivani Jha, Director of the Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA), told PTI.
In August of last year, the Madras High Court overturned a recent amendment to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, passed in 1930, that prohibited online gaming of rummy and poker with stakes. Part II of the TN Gaming & Police Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021, which prohibited betting or wagering in cyberspace as well as games of skill if played for a wager, bet, money, or other stakes, was declared unconstitutional by the bench.
The bench, on the other hand, granted the state the freedom to pass new legislation without any gaps.
Tamil Nadu has formed a committee chaired by retired Justice K Chandru to advise on new legislation governing online gaming. For new legislation, the state government has solicited input from various stakeholders.
In support of online gamers, chess Grandmaster Ankit Rajpara requested that the central government intervene in the ban imposed by states. “In the past, the central government has assured stakeholders that we will not be treated as criminals, but state governments have done the opposite,” Rajpara said.
Jha claims that multiple laws and classifying skill-based games as gambling are leading to the criminalization of skill-based players.
“While India competes in international tournaments and game developers create new titles, the government must regulate online skill-based gaming. Furthermore, courts have repeatedly ruled that the state government can only pass laws governing online gambling, not gaming, putting players at risk and equating them with gamblers and criminals “She stated.
