Madhya Pradesh government to introduce new Gambling Act 2023
Madhya Pradesh state in India is set to enact a new Gambling Act, with adequate provisions against online gambling, says Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
On 19 April 2023, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, announced that the state government is planning to enact a new gambling law, the 'Madhya Pradesh Gambling Act 2023', in order to tackle the growing problem of online gambling.
Currently, the Gambling Act of 1876 is applicable in the state, but it does not address online gambling. The new law will include provisions to punish criminals involved in online gambling and ensure effective enforcement.
Additionally, the Chief Minister announced the formation of a special cell under the chairmanship of an Additional Director General of Police to take action against chit-fund companies and monitor the return of money to affected people.
The move comes amid increasing concern about the impact of online gambling on public health and the need for stricter regulations to prevent addiction and other negative consequences.