Nagaland weighs online industry
The Akali-BJP government in the Indian state of Punjab has increased daily state lottery draw from 42 to 48, and may also consider wagers on overseas horse races, according to the Asia Gaming Brief.
AGB cited a report in the India’s Tribune newspaper, which said, “The right wing government has decided to bank on online lotteries and horse racing to earn money needed to fund the development works and offer sops, ahead of the Assembly elections next year, besides fulfilling its committed liabilities.” Annual revenues from lottery in the state stands at around Rs105 crore (US$15.3 million).
In addition to overseas horse bets, there is also talk that the U.S.-based Stronach Group has pitched a proposal to build a racecourse in the city of Ludhiana in Punjab. Unnamed sources in the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board said no decision has been made on the proposal, and no fresh tenders have been invited.
Meanwhile, a select committee is considering a skill games bill in the state of Nagaland. Nagaland was the first state in India to introduce special legislation to regulate and license online skill games like poker, rummy and fantasy sports. The bill was defeated in 2015 due to opposition from the Nagaland Baptist Church Council.
At the same time, India President Pranab Mukherjee adding illegal online gaming to the list of offenses punishable under the Indian Penal Code.
“The IPC has undergone very few changes in the last 155 years. Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable,” President Mukherjee said. “Even now, there are offences in the code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defined and incorporated in the code.”
