Right from the beginning of the COVID-19 restrictions having people stuck at their homes, there has been occasional cases of individuals losing money and even taking the extreme step of taking their own lives as a result. Hence, on Friday, September 17, the State Government introduced a bill in the State Legislative Assembly to amend the Karnataka Police Act 1963, with the goal of prohibiting online gambling and betting and imposing a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh for violating the provisions. The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2021, prohibits all types of wagering or betting, including the use of tokens worth money paid before or after they are issued. It has outlawed the use of electronic means and virtual currency, as well as electronic fund transfers in connection with any game of 'chance'. Online gambling has become more of a social issue during the course of the pandemic. The backdrop of this is a previous petition requesting complete ban on online gambling.
