PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss has again raised his call for the Tamil Nadu government to approach the Supreme Court to ban online rummy and poker. This plea comes in response to suicides in Tamil Nadu reportedly linked to losses in online gambling.

In a post on X, Ramadoss mentioned a recent incident involving a youth working in a lodge in Swamimalai, who died by suicide after losing money through online gambling reported the Dajiworld.

Ramadoss stressed the urgency of the situation by noting that since the Madras High Court’s decision on November 9, 2023. At least 12 people have taken their own lives due to online gambling-related issues, including six in the past month alone, reported The Hindu.

The Madras High Court had refused to entirely strike down the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022. However, it ruled that the prohibition would apply only to games of chance, excluding games of skill such as rummy and poker.

Ramadoss expressed frustration over the lack of action from the Tamil Nadu government despite repeated urgings to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. He emphasised the necessity of immediate legal measures to implement a complete ban on online gambling, arguing that such steps are critical to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

Ramadoss stated that the state government must expedite legal steps to get the ban implemented. He pointed out the detrimental impact of online gambling traps on vulnerable individuals. Several suicide cases linked to online gambling surfaced in the past few weeks, including a factory worker from Ariyalur district, a medical student and an engineering student among several others.

The PMK leader’s appeal aims to address the growing crisis of online gambling and protect citizens from its harmful effects.