India's Minister of Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, reiterated in the Lok Sabha that laws concerning betting and gambling fall under the jurisdiction of individual states, reinforcing India's federal structure.
His statement was in response to DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran's query, who questioned the central government's stance on banning online gaming platforms.
During the query session, Maran pressed the government, asking if it was shirking its "moral responsibility" to regulate online gaming sites, especially considering that Tamil Nadu has already implemented a ban on such platforms.
In response, Vaishnaw countered that the central government operates within the constitutional framework, which designates gambling and betting as a state matter under List II of the government affairs.
Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of understanding the federal structure, urging members to respect the constitutional provisions, and stated: "The constitution grants the states the moral and legal authority to enact relevant laws under the provisions of List II dealing with state affairs."
It is worth noting that as part of regulatory efforts, the government has already banned 1,410 gaming websites based on complaints.
The minister further clarified that although the central government has taken steps to address concerns about online gaming, the ultimate legislative power still rests with the states.
Furthermore, Vaishnaw highlighted that, if necessary, action can be taken against online gaming platforms under Article 112 of the Indian legal framework.
