AP CM Jagan wants Centre to ban online gambling apps and websites

AP Chief Minister Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy wants the Centre to ban online gambling apps and websites. The CM in a letter to IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that many youths have lost their lives due to this addiction.

Amaravati: On Wednesday, Chief Minister Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy wrote a letter to Union Information and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asking him to stop online gambling, betting websites and apps in Andhra Pradesh. A total of 132 websites in AP are causing online gambling and betting, CM said in the letter. Internet service providers have been asked to suspend their use in the AP.

"We have decided to amend the AP Gaming Act 1974 and ban online gaming and betting in the state," CM Jagan said in a letter to the Union Minister. The notification regarding this amendment ordinance was issued on September 25, 2020. The law criminalizes online gambling and betting.

The CM said in the letter that the youth were becoming addicted to these websites and apps. Many have lost their properties and have committed suicide. CM mentioned that mobile phones and laptops are easily available to everyone and they are easily attracted to such online games. The Union Minister was asked to immediately direct the Internet service providers to stop these activities in the AP.