So, what might be a legal online game in one state could be illegal in another. In practice, this means that different states ban different online games for being “gambling games” based on their own legislative wisdom. Why are we talking about federalism or gambling in an online gaming law?: Gambling (whether offline or online) is a state subject in India. How is it within the Indian government’s competence to do so?” “Whether the Indian government couches the games as “intermediaries” or not, they’ve put down a certain regulatory framework for online games.

“It’s clear that states have the power to regulate gambling and betting, which cover all sorts of games,” said gaming and technology lawyer Jay Sayta. Some think they’re an example of the Indian government siphoning off state powers to regulate online gaming. Heads butted over whether India’s proposed online gaming rules will eat up state powers at MediaNama’s discussion event on about them last week.