A recent decision by the Karnataka government turned the focus back on India’s online gaming industry. According to Karnataka’s Police Amendment Act, online gaming and gambling through internet or mobile apps will be banned. Not just this, those found aiding such online gambling will also be punished. And the punishments range from a 1 lakh fine to even serving an 18-month jail term. What is interesting though is that gambling through lottery or betting on horse races will still be allowed.

But Karnataka isn’t the first state embroiled in such controversy. Not too long ago, the Madras high court had passed an order striking down a law in Tamil Nadu that banned online games like rummy and poker. Karnataka’s rationale is that it wants to differentiate between a game of chance versus a game of skill and defines online games as any act of risking money.

Speaking to ET Now regarding the new law Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation said that the ambiguity had left all stakeholder thoroughly confused. Especially for a state like Karnataka where a lot is riding on the crores of rupees worth of investments made in the sector.

“Our understanding is that games of skill might also be brought under the law. We had made we did make a adequate representation to all the stakeholders and are still hopeful that online games of skill are kept aside” he added.

Interestingly, the former minister for IT in the state Priyank Kharge was among the many to slam the government move that could damage the states image as an IT hub. he tweeted that– ” Govt needs to be more specific & identify games that encourage betting instead of a blanket ban for all online games.”

“Govt should form a committee With industry stake holders & come out with a law that curbs online betting instead of a bill that won’t stand the test of law” Kharge tweeted.

Meanwhile, The Kerala High Court on Monday, lifted the ban on online rummy terming it a Game of Skill going on to state that the ban was unconstitutional.