States Responsible To Take Action On Online Gambling Websites: Centre Tells Court

The plea said despite there being laws enacted by various states prohibiting such activities, a large number of websites providing gambling, betting and wagering games are still accessible in India.

The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that it is the state government which is responsible for taking action on online gambling websites and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) is not authorized to direct any intermediary to block such sites. The Centre's affidavit was filed before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh which was hearing a petition seeking directions to the Ministry of Finance, MEITY and Delhi government to take steps to ban websites which are involved in gambling, betting and wagering. The court, which listed the matter for further hearing on October 11, orally observed that online gambling is dangerous and websites earning cannot be at the cost of youngsters. The plea said despite there being laws enacted by various states prohibiting such activities, a large number of websites providing gambling, betting and wagering games are still accessible in India.