According to reports coming from the Odisha (formerly Orissa) High Court, a case has been filed regarding the legality of gambling in the state. Chief Justice Dr S. Muralidhar and Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra formed a bench to hear the case.
We spoke to an expert from justgamblers.com who believes that notice has now been issued to the state government of Odisha requesting a response to the filing of the case by an online gaming company. This response will be in connection with the grounds for the case which are that the provisions of the Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act of 1955 are unconstitutional and should be declared as such.
Our sources suggest that the next hearing for this case is due to be held in February 2022. Other parties included in the case are thought to be the State Home Department, the Police DG, and other senior officials.
In order to understand the case, it’s valuable to have knowledge of the current gambling laws in Odisha. As previously stated, these laws are governed under the Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act, 1955. They make it an offence to gamble in a common gambling house.
Punishments for this offence include up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to 1,000 rupees. These are severe potential outcomes for anyone who is found to be present at a common gambling house.
The difficulty is that the law does not specifically outlaw online gambling which is popular in many Indian states. Offshore casinos provide services for Indian players.
What is the gaming company hoping to achieve?
The online gaming company that has brought the case is hoping to clarify the situation regarding online gambling and make the gambling landscape in Odisha less complex. And, of course, its main aim is to make it possible for people to legally gamble online in Odisha with no fear of any repercussions.
This is a common aim across much of India right now as people appeal for progressive laws to optimise the potential of the popularity of gambling in Odisha. There is no doubt about the potential financial returns state and national governments could secure from a legalised and regulated gambling framework.
A change in overall gambling laws is not going to happen immediately. However, it could potentially take place at some point in the future. Cases like the one brought in Odisha are likely to change the legal landscape dramatically if they result in successful outcomes for those bringing them. With this in mind, there is much interest in the final outcome of this particular case. This includes interest from online gambling companies and from people in India who are interested in gambling and want the opportunity to participate without fear of facing being charged with a crime and punished.
Only time will tell whether those interested will get the result they are hoping for.
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