PIL In Delhi High Court Seeks Ban on Online Betting and Gambling

A PIL has moved to t��he Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Centre to take steps to ban websites accessible from India which allow online♏ gambling and betting.

The petition argues that despite th꧑ere being laws in various states against such activity, there is little enforcement and these websites still act freel🌜y.

The plea, by Avinash Mehotra, says: "It is submitted that all these activities💦, though expressly prohibited by law, are being carrie🍸d out because of a lack of enforcement of the laws in question."

It also claims, that because the online gambling system in India is unregulated, its "a❀ great place for carrying out hawala operations, laundering money, etc."

"In fact, it is submitted that Fo🥂reign Exchange laws, as well as Income Tax laws, are a🍷lso likely being violated today by the online gambling websites," the plea continues.

Mehrotra moved a similar petition last year which was disposed of with a direction t🐼o the Centre to treat it as a representation and take a decision in accordance with law.

The central governmꦿent subsequently informed him that it did not have the legislative competence to ban or bloc🎃k websites.

In addition to a ba💜n, Mehotra seeks back taxes from players and bettors, and the opera🧔tors.

✃He has also 🍷sought a direction to the Centre to ''prosecute the unscrupulous owners/proprietors, and the promoters of the online gambling websites, in accordance with law".

Various PILs have been filed in the Delhi High Court in the last few years, and recently the Court asked the government to treat as a representation ✅a PIL against technology enabling online gambling.