What is in news : The Karnataka legislature has passed a Bill to amend the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 in order to ban all forms of gambling in the state, including online gambling.

Aim : Strengthen the Karnataka Police Act to make gambling a cognizable and non-bailable offence and “curb menace of gaming through the Internet, mobile apps”

Application :

• Covers all forms of wagering or betting in connection with any game of chance (with the exception of horse races and lotteries)
• Any act of risking money or otherwise on the unknown result of an event including on a game of skill is an offence.

Punishments

• Law enhances maximum punishment for owners of gambling centres
• One year to three years of imprisonment
• Fines from Rs 1000 to Rs 1 lakh
• Minimum punishment proposed is six months instead of the current one month and a fine of Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 500
• For aiding or abetting gambling, the punishment has been enhanced to six months imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine.