Law Panel Does U-Turn; Recommends Total Gambling Ban

It was only yesterday when we brought you some heartening news of the Law Commission of India saying that gambling should be legalised. However on Friday, the Law Commission while speaking to the media clarified its stance on legalising betting and gambling and said that the panel’s report had been misunderstood and it had recommended a complete ban. The panel said legalisation would not be desirable considering the current scenario. Further shedding light on the subject, the Law Commission stated that a complete ban on unlawful betting and gambling is a must and should continue, quashing reports about its apparent intention of legalising betting and gambling.

 

Law Commission chairman Justice BS Chauhan told TOI the commission has given suggestions on what measures should be adopted for effective regulation in case the Centre and state governments feel the need to legalise betting and gambling. “Again, it has been recommended effective regulation remains the only viable option to control gambling, if it is not possible to enforce a complete ban,” he added.

The law panel’s report said such regulation of gambling would require a three-pronged strategy, reforming the existing gambling (lottery, horse racing) market, regulating illegal gambling and introducing stringent and overarching regulations.

Justice Chauhan said all those who got subsidies or did not fall within the purview of the Income Tax Act or the GST Act should be barred from participating in online/offline gambling platforms, in case the government decides to regulate betting and gambling. He said the report had stressed that the government should ensure vulnerable sections of society were protected from being exploited.

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