The recent incident of online fraud wherein a businessman lost Rs 58 crore in online gambling seems to have sent ripples of fear across the traders community who are now demanding the policy makers to block online gaming formats and take a stricter stance on gambling websites. The traders under the banner of Nagpur Chamber of Commerce Limited (NCCL) on Monday said the rising number of businessmen losing money in online gaming is a big threat for the society and thus it must be controlled. Highlighting that a large number of innocent citizens, including businessmen, are falling pray to the deceptive allure of easy money, President of NCCL Govind Pasari said the new mode of gambling is a worrying trend that the country has been witnessing. Addressing a press conference held here, Pasari also cautioned the traders to stay from the online gaming formats. “When a trader is involved in online gaming, he not only loses his own money but also the borrowed money. This affects many other traders who are indirectly associated with the victim,” he explained.

 

Past President of the body Kailash Jogani said the law to govern online betting and gambling in the country needs to be made stringent. “Though online gaming is legal in India, there is a very thin line which differentiates what is legal and what is not. Many online gaming platforms take undue advantage of it and cheat innocent people,” he said. Jogani further pointed out that there are many illegal gaming and betting apps that are transferring money through ‘hawala’ channels. “This is also encouraging many anti social elements to invest their black money in such activities,” he said. Jogani further said that the Government should also set up a regulatory body to monitor online gaming apps and introduce strict rules to block prohibited gambling websites.