Betting through eGaming using VPNs remains a challenge in restricted states: Expert

livemint.com:

gamers have continued to bet on these games through different channels, as Anubhab Sarkar, Managing Partner at Triumvir Law, told LiveMint. In a recent development, the Madras High Court partially lifted the ban on online gaming implemented by the Telangana Government. However, chance-based games still remain banned in many states, including Sikkim, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Under the Indian Constitution, the State Government holds the authority to regulate 'betting and gambling'. LiveMint spoke with Sarkar to get more clarity on eGaming and confusion around its regulation. Answer: The ban on online gaming does not necessarily constitute a universal or blanket ban on all games in states that have restricted betting through gaming.

Games of skill, like poker and rummy, may still be permissible, while chance-based games, which qualify as gambling, face restrictions. The legal landscape regarding online gaming is dynamic, subject to changes influenced by court decisions and legislative amendments, reflecting the evolving nature of the industry and its regulatory framework. Also Read | India's online gaming industry gains with increased user spending Answer: The nature of permissible games in the context of online gaming regulations in India often hinges on the distinction between games of skill and games of chance.

Games like poker and rummy are generally classified as games of skill, where the outcome is influenced by the player’s knowledge, strategy, and skill. These games are often considered permissible even in states with restrictions on online gaming. However, the ban on chance-based games, like Teen Patti or Blackjack, remains in effect in states such as Sikkim, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal