- Madras High Court will soon decide on Tamil Nadu’s online gaming rules.
- Companies challenge Aadhaar verification and midnight gaming ban, mentioning privacy and operational issues.
- Tamil Nadu defends rules to protect health, while EPWA says only the central government should regulate online games.
The Madras High Court has finished hearing arguments about Tamil Nadu’s rules for online games and will soon give its decision. Justices S. M. Subramaniam and K. Rajasekar listened to all sides and decided to wait for written submissions before making a ruling.
Tamil Nadu’s Rules for Online Games
The issue is about the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022. The state government made these rules official on February 14, 2024.
The law sets out to control how online games are played in Tamil Nadu, with limits on certain types of games and stricter checks on who can play.
Why Companies Are Challenging the Law
The trouble started when companies like Play Games 24×7 and Head Digital Works challenged the new rules. They don’t like two main parts: one that requires players to use their Aadhaar card to prove who they are, and another that stops online gaming from being played between midnight and 5 a.m.
These companies say the Aadhaar rule could risk players’ privacy and the time restriction makes it hard for them to run their platforms. They also think it limits what users can do.
The Tamil Nadu government defended the rules, saying they protect people’s health and stop addiction, especially for young players. Advocate General P.S. Raman compared the midnight ban to rules that stop movie theaters from showing films late at night. He also said the Aadhaar check is needed to make sure only the right people play online gaming that involve real money.
The Esports Players Welfare Association (EPWA) also joined the case, saying Tamil Nadu shouldn’t make rules for online games. They believe the central government should handle this because online games involve communication, which is listed under the central government’s authority in the Constitution. They think rules for online games should be the same across the country.
The court has now heard all arguments and will decide soon on whether Tamil Nadu’s rules for online games can stay or need changes.
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