The Supreme Court of India has officially classified real money games (RMG) as gambling, regardless of whether they require skill or luck. This ruling likens smartphones to virtual casinos due to the widespread availability of gambling.
On May 27, the court upheld the ban on RMG in the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, stating that betting money on the outcome of any game, including online rummy, poker, and fantasy sports, does not fall under constitutional protection.
This decision was made in the case brought by the Tamil Nadu authorities against the iGaming operator Junglee Games, overturning earlier rulings by the High Courts of Madras and Karnataka that had exempted skill-based games from the ban. The bench of judges determined that the nature of the game is irrelevant when money is wagered, and the right to prohibit such games remains with the states.