Sikkim govt issues notification banning locals from accessing online gaming zones
Exclusive Over one month after Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling that local residents would be banned from accessing gaming kiosks set up by Golden Gaming, the state government has come up with a notification amending the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Rules to bring into effect a provision that mandates the requirement of having a photo identity car🥃d issued from outside the state of Sikkim for entry into gaming zones.
The notification, issued on 17th July, brings into force the Sikkim Oꦓnline Gaming (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2018 which prohibits the entry of local residents in online gaming zones. The amend subꩵstitutes Rule 13 of the 2009 Online Gaming Rules.
Rule 13(1) has essentially been left unamended and states that no person below the age of of ei✅ghteen 🌌years will be allowed to play online games.
Rule 13(2) of the amended Rules💖 state: “In order to safeguard the interestsꦦ of the local people, only persons having a photo identity card, either Voter Identity Card or Aadhar Card, or Passport issued from outside the State of Sikkim will be permitted entry into the Gaming Zones.”
Further, Rule 13(3) has also been added which 🌱states that the licensee shall ensure strict compliance with the aforementioned rules failing which the online gaming license will b🔯e liable to suspension and/or cancellation.
Reacting to the notification, Manoj Sethi, Managing Director of Golden Gaming said, “The state government in its wisdom haꦦs amended the rules to bar locals. We will comply with the amended rules and con🔯tinue our operations.”
Notably, in July 2016, the Sikkim government the Sikkim Casinos (Control & Tax) Rules, 2007 to ban locals from accessing casinos. The wording of the notification amending the 2007 Casino Rules was identical to the recent notification banning locals f𒀰rom entering online gaming✃ and betting shops.
With the issuance of the new notification, entry of locals to both online gaming and betting kioskꦓs as well as casinos in five star hotels stands banned.
