Karnataka High Court  lifts ban on online gaming

Karnataka High Court on Monday lifted the ban imposed by Karnataka’s state government on betting and playing games of skill, including online games. This news provided a sense of relief to the gaming industry. Companies like Dream11, Games24x7, MPL will resume their operations. Chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and justice Krishna S Dixit, while pronouncing the judgment, called the provisions unconstitutional. Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation, delighted by the judgment said: “As the apex industry body for online skill gaming, AIGF welcomes the judgment passed by the court that strikes down the law banning online games. Coming in succession of the positive judgments for online skill gaming by the Kerala and Madras HC in 2021, this is a step in the right direction to grow the burgeoning gaming industry. India is the fifth largest online gaming market globally and skill-based gaming, a sunrise sector, is giving birth to an increasing number of unicorns within the country, especially Karnataka. The sector has been a strong financial contributor to the Indian economy even during an unprecedented period of slowdown and is further expected to generate revenues in excess of $3 billion by 2025".