Locals to be banned from online gambling in Sikkim state

The chief minister Indian state of Sikkim, which was a pioneer of legal and regulated online gambling in 2016, has announced at a public meeting that local punters will henceforth be banned from using the online betting shop facilities of the sole legal licensee in the state, Golden Gaming.

To emphasise the point, chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling warned Golden Gaming that its licence could be imperilled if it accepted wagers from Sikkim state residents.

Residents are already barred from land casinos under the Sikkim Casinos (Control & Tax) Rules, but the ban was not expressly legislated as applying to online gambling or online betting shops activity, a loophole the government now seeks to close.

However, observers have noted that the necessary amendments to the legislation to give force to the chief minister’s announcement have yet to be made, and as yet no official government statement has be en issued.

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