Indian province publishes its online gambling regulations

Nagaland, one of two Indian provinces that have legalised online gambling, has published its regulations under the Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Rules, 2016.

The regulations make it possible for the government to press ahead with the issue of licenses, and operators who wish to licence in the province may now submit applications.

Licence requirements include an application fee of Rs. 50,000 ($740) and compliance with regulations that require that the controlling stake of the enterprise and the location where executive decisions are made must be within India.

In addition a licence fee of Rs. 1 million per game per annum, or Rs. 2.5 million per annum if the applicant offers a variety of games, is payable, along with a gaming tax of 0.5 percent of GGR.

Industry experts have observed that the hefty fees and taxation are likely to deter many operators.

In related news and still in India, the Sikkim province, which was the first to licence and regulate online gambling, has spared the vertical from new regulations it has imposed on the province’s two land casinos.

The regulations double entry fees to the casinos from Rs. 500 ($7.5) to Rs. 1,000, and ban local residents from entry by requiring that those entering the casinos produce ID issued outside the Sikkim province.

The land operators are reportedly not happy with the changes, which they saw will adversely impact their local business.