Bet365 no longer accepts players from Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh: In a shocking move, popular online betting platform, Bet365 announced that they no longer accept players from Andhra Pradesh. Further, it will also be closing down all existing accounts of players from Andhra Pradesh.

This announcement comes in the wake of the Andhra Pradesh gambling (Amendment) Bill 2020 which bans online gaming in the state. The Andhra Pradesh government has outright prohibited Andhraites to play pay-to-play formats of any online games.

Notable points from the Andhra Pradesh gambling (Amendment) Bill 2020 -

● Per the amendment, the first offence attracts imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of Rs. 5,000/-. Players would get an imprisonment for six months in the first instance and the operators of gambling games are entitled to one year imprisonment. 

The punishment would be two years of jail for both players and operators if found guilty for a second time. In addition, a fine of Rs. 10,000 would also be payable.

● Every offence under this amendment to the AP Gaming Act, 1974 is cognizable and non-bailable.

● The government will not be banning any online betting mobile app or website within the state. However, players indulging in online gambling on these sites will be punished.

● The amendment makes an online quiz, a game of chess, and memory games, where participants are required to pay a fee for participation and are rewarded money for winning the same as betting or gambling.

Detailed analysis from MyBetting.in, an online betting information portal in India, has indicated that if more Indian states adopt this amendment as a template, online betting providers including Bet365 will suffer a massive hit to their revenue.

Chief editor of MyBetting, Tomesh Kulkarni, has pointed out that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has ignored directions from the Supreme Court of India by bringing games of skill such as rummy into the category