SC flags growth of online betting, loan apps, seeks states’ response

The Supreme Court on Friday said the growth of online betting and loan applications is an issue of paramount public importance and sought responses of all states on regulating them.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said it will hear the PIL filed by K A Paul, a Hyderabad-based businessman, which claimed that many children have died by suicide after using online betting and gambling applications, and sought interim direction to restrain celebrities from endorsing them and the media from giving them publicity.

The Bench said it is listing the matter for hearing on priority on August 18 and asked the states to respond to the plea expeditiously.

Paul contended that the main issue of regulation of these betting applications can be adjudicated in due course, but what was required in the interim is that celebrities, including cricketers, be restrained from endorsing them as many youngsters who consider them role models start using these applications.

“These celebrities should be immediately restrained and the media be asked not to show these endorsements as over 30 million teens are affected by using them. One Mahadev application was banned by the government, but there are several other applications,” Paul submitted.

The counsel appearing for the Centre, which was issued notice on May 23, said another top court bench is hearing the same issue where the moot question to be decided is whether these applications can be considered as online gambling and betting applications or whether these are games of skill.

India