NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a petition filed by the Karnataka government against the High Court's division bench judgement of February 14, which struck down provisions of law prohibiting betting and wagering in online games.
A bench of Justices S Abdul Nazeer and V Ramasubramanian issued notice to the All India Gaming Federation and others on the plea by the state government. A plea was filed by Varun Gumber against Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports and others.
The court ordered to list the matter along with a similar plea by the Tamil Nadu government, being considered here, against the Madras High Court judgement.
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Shyam Divan and A M Singhvi appeared for the gaming companies associations.
The counsel said the issue was whether it was game of skill or chance or gambling. They said the court may issue notice and tag along with pending matter.
The Karnataka High Court had quashed some amendments to the Police Act, 1963 to prohibit betting and wagering in online games.
Earlier this month, the apex court had decided to consider a similar plea by the Tamil Nadu government against the Madras High Court's judgement had struck down the ban imposed on online gambling such as rummy and poker on cyberspace with stakes.
The Kerala High Court had also quashed such prohibition.
The respective State governments banned the online games using money on the primary ground that those have ruined a large number of youth and their families.
