Explain Statutory Powers Under Which Online Betting For Horse-Racing Was Allowed : Karnataka High Court To State Govt

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice S Vishwajith Shetty issued the notice while hearing a petition filed by C.Gopal. The bench said the state government must file its statement of objections stating the statutory powers under which the state has purported to grant permission for online betting.

As per the petition, the turf club had made a representation to the state government seeking permission to allow them to conduct On-line Betting of their Tote. It further alleges that the State government, without analyzing the damage which would be caused to the society, sent a proposal to allow for On-line Betting, to the Chief Minister, by way of letter dated 25.06.2020 and the Chief Minister without looking into the pros and cons and repercussions upon the society, approved the above proposal on 29.06.2020.

Advocate H V Praveen Gowda, appearing for the petitioner, argued that granting permission to conduct On-line Betting is a bane to the society, as many persons, especially the youth would get addicted to the same and same would affect their family, education, occupation and would end up in bankruptcy etc., and would bring majority of them to the streets by putting them into deep financial crises, depression and may further lead to indulge in crime.

The petition states that in Mahabarata, Yudhishtir, the eldest of the Pandavas, was fond of gambling and it is believed that he lost his entire kingdom, wife and his brother in a game of dice. If online betting is implemented the same curse will visit the families of the gamblers, apprehends the petitioner.

Further, it is stated that with the ease of internet connection and the comforts of disguising ones identity, many minors are attracted to the gambling, with the fake identities and use of credit cards they fail to realize the extent to which they can go wrong.

The petition mentions that the permission granted is nothing but a tool used to bring massive revenue to the state exchequer at the cost of the public at large, it is nothing but gaining wrongfully at the cost of the society/public at large.

Pointing to the issue of loss of job due to allowing online betting the petition states "By the above permission thousands of workers who were working for the Respondent No.3 (Turf Club) would lose their job and in turn would affect their livelihood."

The matter will be next heard on November 20.