SC Issues Notice to Centre on Plea to Ban Betting Apps
Citing the harm that online and offline betting platforms cause to India's youngsters, the Supreme Court sent a notice to the Union government on a public interest lawsuit calling for their prohibition.
Concerns about gambling addiction, an increase in suicides, and celebrity support for betting applications were brought up in the petition.
In his plea, evangelist and politician Dr. KA Paul claimed that millions of Indians, especially young people, are being lured into betting applications without any regulatory monitoring or health warnings. The petition was considered by a two-judge panel made up of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh.
He asserted that more than 1,000 suicides had been caused by gambling addiction, citing statistics from Telangana alone. He claimed that without any legal warnings like those found on tobacco goods, some 300 million Indians are being "trapped illegally" through these platforms.
Additionally, the petitioner asserted that more than 25 Bollywood and Tollywood actors and influencers were supporting betting applications and that FIRs had been filed against them. "God of cricketers is endorsing... people then think it is okay," he said, highlighting cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar for his affiliation with such platforms.
Justice Surya Kant warned against expecting that law alone could offer a comprehensive solution, even if he acknowledged the seriousness of the problem.
The bench took note of the plea and sent a formal notice to the Center asking for a response. Additionally, it mandated that the Attorney General and Solicitor General of India receive a soft copy of the plea.
Although the court did not send letters to specific states, it made it clear that this might be taken into consideration later on, contingent on the Center's response and the extent of the necessary regulation.