THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When Tamil Nadu banned deadly online gambling games by issuing an emergency ordinance in the wake of teenagers committing suicide, the Home Department in Kerala is yet to act on the Law Department's recommendation to ban it in the state through an amendment. More than 20 people have taken their lives in the state after losing money on online games, including rummy. The Law Department proposed an action similar to the prohibition of online lotteries by amending Section III of the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960.

As per the newly introduced law in Tamil Nadu, those who come up with such games can be punished with three years in prison and a fine of Rs 10 lakh. The governor signed the ordinance the other day. The recommendation of the Kerala Law Department was to impose a punishment of one-year imprisonment or a fine of 10,000 rupees. The Law Department clarified that online rummy games involving money can be prevented by amending the Kerala Gaming Act. No further action was taken despite a recommendation following the query of the Home Department as to whether the amendment of the law was possible.

In February 2021, the High Court had quashed the notification banning online rummy gambling by amending the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960. The Madras High Court had earlier struck down a similar law introduced by the Tamil Nadu government. They introduced a new law to overcome it. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had announced in the Legislative Assembly that a loophole-free and effective law amendment to regulate online games in Kerala is under consideration.

Mobile apps lending money for online rummy games and online loan ads are becoming widespread. Many are facing threats and blackmail for not returning money on time.