Online Gaming Ban Threatens 2 Lakh Jobs, 200+ Companies: Industry Over New Bill
The Union cabinet on August 19 cleared the online gaming bill, which is likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha today, August 20. The new bill comes amid an increase in fraud cases in recent months in connection with online gaming. Authorities have recently arrested several celebrities for endorsing these applications.
The proposed bill has, however, caused the gaming industry to worry about its very existence, and the industry entities have appealed to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, for urgent intervention in the bill.
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Voicing its concerns, the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) have claimed that the bill could pose a threat to the livelihoods of thousands. AIGF claimed that crores of genuine gamers may be pushed towards illegal gambling platforms and unregulated operators if the bill is passed in its present form.
The organization said the bill could be a death knell for the industry and cause the loss of jobs, opportunities and livelihoods.
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