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Online Gaming and Esports in India

Skill Versus Chance

Indian law traditionally treated 'games of skill' differently from 'games of chance', and courts debated where rummy and fantasy sports fell.

A legal line that shaped an industry.

Old rule

Gambling laws targeted games of chance, while games where skill predominates were allowed.

Courts

Courts held rummy and, in many cases, fantasy sports as skill games.

Companies

Platforms grew fast under this reading.

Tension

Critics said many players lost money and got addicted, whatever the skill element.

A fantasy team

Selecting players using cricket knowledge was argued to be a skill activity.

Treating skill as a complete defence

Harm can arise from either.

Key takeaways
  • Skill games were treated differently.
  • Courts backed rummy and fantasy.
  • Companies grew under that view.
  • Harm concerns persisted.
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