Vijaywada, October 29: In a bid to block online gambling in the state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has requested the Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar to block online gaming, gambling, and betting websites and applications in the state in his letter.

 

 

In a letter to Union Minister for Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad, CM Reddy attached a list of 132 such websites and apps saying that online gaming, gambling, and betting websites had become a social evil. It has led to youth getting involved in vices from the comfort of their home through their mobile phones and computers. Even as gambling and betting can be easily identified, their online operations are difficult to trace, he said.

 

"Needless to say, it has led to widespread despair amongst the public Suicides due to loosing money, severe addiction and consequent violent behavior in case of any restriction, general aloofness amongst the youth and indifference to society and world in and around, are some of the significant damaging consequences," the letter further reads.

 

Jagan informed the Union minister that his government amended the AP Gaming Act, 1974, to include online gaming and betting as a cognisable. He said, "In light of the above, we have amended the AP Gaming Act, 1974 to include online gaming, online gambling, and onloffenseting as an offence through Andhra Pradesh (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 which was notified on 25th September, 2020.”

 

He added that the main features of the Act are that even those assisting the operation of online games are liable for punishment. “The managing directors of all the online gaming companies and those involved in the running of the companies are liable for punishment under the Act,’’ Jagan said.

 

It further added that “The role of internet service providers can be termed as assisting in case they do not take steps to block access to these websites in the areas where it is illegal. Online gaming, gambling, or betting cannot be stopped without the assistance of Internet Service Providers."

 

In the end, he requests center to direct all the Internet Service Providers to block all the online gaming, gambling, and betting websites and apps from access in Andhra Pradesh.

 

Jagan government has recently amended the AP Gaming Act 1974 to include online gaming, gambling, and betting as an offense through an ordinance which was notified on September 25, 2020.