People betting, gambling on pretext of IPL, notes SC

The SC on Friday said people were betting and gambling in the garb of IPL and sought the Centre’s response on a PIL seeking to regulate betting applications.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice to the Centre on a plea filed by KA Paul, who claimed many children had died by suicide after using online betting and gambling applications.

The petitioner alleged several online influencers, actors and cricketers were promoting such online apps, luring children in the process and sought a complete ban on illegal betting apps, strict regulations on online gaming and fantasy sports and enactment of a comprehensive law. Paul said in case of cigarettes, packs had pictures indicating the ill-effects of smoking, but no such caution was publicised in case of betting apps.

India