DSK Legal advised, assisted and represented Head Digital Works Private Limited, Play Games24X7 Private Limited and Junglee Games India Private Limited (‘Online Gaming Operators’) before the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Madras in the proceedings as stated hereinbelow.
State of Tamil Nadu had promulgated Act No. 9 of 2023 titled the “Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022” (“the Act”), to prohibit online gambling and to regulate online games in the State of Tamil Nadu. The Act also prohibited games of skill such as Rummy and Poker when played online.
Aggrieved by the action of the State of Tamil Nadu in prohibiting the game of skill such as ‘Online Rummy’ and ‘Online Poker’, Online Gaming Operators had moved to the Hon’ble High Court by way of Writ Petitions for Madras challenging the vires of the Act and seeking protection of its fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.
Judgement
Vide the Judgment, the Hon’ble Court upheld the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022 but ruled that its prohibitory provisions will be applicable only to games of chance and not to games of skill such as Rummy and Poker. The Hon’ble Court has held that the Act cannot be invoked to ban games of skill like Rummy and Poker.
DSK Legal Team
The matter was argued by Senior Advocates Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, Mr. Sajan Poovayya, Mr. Satish Parasaran and Mr. C. Manishankar.
The DSK Legal Team which prepared the Writ Petition, strategized the matter, appeared and briefed Senior Counsel comprised of Mr. Akhil Anand (Partner), Mr. Durga Bose Gandham and Mr. Himanshu Vij (Principal Associate)