Gaming and gambling : On the Centre’s move to regulate online gaming
Economic rights, personal freedoms, social imperatives must be in balance
The Union government’s proposed measures for regulating online gaming in a draft amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Liability and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 leave several questions unanswered. Some of these proposed measures, such as the establishment of a self-regulatory body, collection of know-your-customer (KYC) information from players, and appointment of a grievance officer within the company, are already in place. These are moves that industry bodies representing such companies have encouraged. States such as Tamil Nadu want much stricter regulation of the sector than what is being proposed by the Centre in the draft, particularly for gambling with real money. The Centre’s draft remains ambiguous on the question of whether States can have additional restrictions. So far, the industry has staved off several bans by mounting legal challenges arguing that they offer games of skill and not those purely dependent on chance — a tenuous distinction for real money gaming. Still, games that require wagering are outlawed in the physical form under the colonial Public Gambling Act, 1867 or States’ own gambling laws. A clear answer should come from the Union government on whether States are empowered to prohibit these games online as they do offline. While the gaming industry has huge potential as an economic driver of growth in India, there is strong case for robust regulation. Of skill or of chance, all online games impact individuals and society, in the short and the long term. The government has indicated that the definition of an ‘online game’, which is limited in the draft amendment to wagering platforms, may be expanded in future to include all games broadly. Societies around the world have grappled with the effects of video games on young players, and the addictive cycles that some gamers can get stuck in; China, for instance, has limited the number of hours that young gamers are allowed to play daily, after which they are locked out for the day. Care and restraint must be exercised when pondering similar steps in India, lest the government introduces uncertainty for both small domestic game developers and large international studios with Indian audiences. The government has said the goal is to facilitate the industry and not hinder its growth. It has also indicated that in future, it will try to curb “violent, addictive or sexual content” in video games. There should be widespread public consultation to ensure that economic rights, individual freedoms, and social imperatives remain in balance
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distinction (noun) – difference, contrast, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, divergence अंतर
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Hinder (verb) – hamper, be a hindrance to, obstruct, impede, inhibit, retard रोकना, बाधा डालना
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Uncertainty (noun) – changeability, changeableness, variability, inconstancy अनिश्चितता
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Mounting (adjective) – gradually increasing
बढ़ते, बढ़ता हुआ
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For instance (phrase) –As an example
.उदाहरण के लिए
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Potential (noun) – capability, capacity, ability, power
क्षमता
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Robust (adjective) – strong, vigorous, sturdy, tough, powerful
मज़बूत
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Grievance (noun) – Complaint, Objection
शिकायत
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Curb (verb) – check, restrain, control, restrict, inhibit
रोकना
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So far (phrase) – thus far
अभी तक
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Draft (noun) – A draft plan, document, etc. is in its first form, including the main points but not all the details
प्रारूप
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Amendment (noun) – change, modification, revision, alteration, improvement
संशोधन
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Ambiguous (adjective) – vague, unclear, equivocal, uncertain, obscure
अस्पष्ट
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Prohibit (verb) – forbid, ban, bar, interdict,
निषेध करना
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Colonial (adjective) – Relating to the period of the British colonies before independence
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In place (phrase) – established.
स्थापित
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Widespread (adjective) – extensive, prevalent, general, common, pervasive
व्यापक
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Encourage (verb) – promote, stimulate, support, foster, urge
प्रोत्साहित करना
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Establishment (noun) –setting up, founding, formation, creation, launch
स्थापना
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Grapple with (phrasal verb) – cope with, contend with, confront, fight
से जूझना
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Case (noun) – Circumstance, situation, event, instance, occasion
मामला, स्थिति
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Expand (verb) –extend, increase, enlarge, grow, broaden
बढ़ाना /विस्तार करना
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Regulate (verb) – control, check, legalize
नियंत्रण करना
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Imperative (noun) – An essential or urgent thing
अनिवार्यता
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Gambling (noun) –the activity of betting money, for example in a game
जुआ
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Know-your-customer (KYC) (noun) – standards are designed to protect financial institutions against fraud, corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing
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Stave off (phrasal verb) – avert, prevent, avoid, preclude, rule out, counter
टालना, रोक देना
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Argue (verb) – Contend, say, maintain, reason, claim
तर्क देना
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Game of chance (phrase) – activity depending on luck, not skill.
भाग्य पर निर्भर
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Tenuous (adjective) – slight, negligible, weak, fragile
थोड़ा /सूक्ष्म
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Wagering (noun) – a bet; a gamble
जुआ
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Outlaw (verb) – ban or make illegal; forbid, prohibit, bar
ग़ैरक़ानूनी बनाना
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Empower (verb) – authorize, license, entitle, permit, allow
सशक्त करना/ अधिकार देना
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Driver (noun) – a factor
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In the long term (phrase) – over or for a long period of time.
लंबे समय तक
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In the short term (phrase) – In the near future
निकट भविष्य में
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Get stuck in (phrase) – start doing (something) with enthusiasm or determination
में अटक जाना
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Addictive (adjective) – causing or characterized by addiction
नशे की लत
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Lock out (phrasal verb) – prevent, keep off, Keep out, exclude; keep someone out of a room or building by locking the door.
बंद करना
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For the day (phrase) – for an entire day
पूरे दिन के लिए
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Restraint (noun) – Self-control, control, self-possession, self-discipline
संयम
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Exercise (verb) – Apply, effect, exert, implement
बरतना
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Ponder (verb) – Consider, contemplate, think about, deliberate
विचार करना
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Lest (conjunction) – In case, So as not to, to avoid the risk of
ऐसा न हो की
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Facilitate (verb) – assist, help, ease, promote, further
सरल बनाना
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Strict (adjective) – Severe, firm, stern, harsh, stringent, rigorous
सख्त