Setback For Sikkim Players, As Govt Passes Online Gaming Amendment Bill But Bars Locals

Online Gaming
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  • PG News August 1, 2015
  • 2 Minutes Read

After more than 40 days, since it asked the three licensees to withhold operations, the Sikkim government has finally amended and passed the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2015 on July 30. The bill includes several conditions, the most disappointing one being that locals would be banned from entering the casinos in the state.

PokerGuru had apprised readers about Sikkim conferring three licenses for online gaming and later seeking amendments to its existing gambling bill.

Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling finally introduced the bill with amendments on July 28. The legislative assembly has approved the bill and it will now be notified to the Governor for his approval. According to the news on Glaws.in, the licensees would be able to begin operations, once the changes were notified and implemented. This process would take about two months.

Glaws.in mentions that the entire changes in the bill are yet to be revealed, but a clause that stood out was the insistence on the use of intranet for the online offerings, in order to avoid any disparity between the parent statute and the licensing conditions. Another facet revealed was the changes made to the bank guarantees and the gaming tax to be submitted by the licensees.

However, the biggest blow for players was when Chamling announced that locals, (Sikkimese players) would not be allowed inside casinos, much like the prevailing laws in Goa, Nepal and the soon to be finalized ordinance in South Korea. Though Goa has passed such a law, it has never been implemented.

In Sikkim, locals will be banned from casinos, as soon as the assembly amends and announces the changed bill.

Keep watching this space for the latest updates.

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