The Karnataka High Court has ruled that playing Rummy, whether with or without stakes, is not considered gambling. Justice SR Krishna Kumar stated that the game is primarily a game of skill and not of chance, whether played online or offline. The judgment came as a result of a show-cause notice issued to online gaming platform Gameskraft by the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence, despite the High Court's stay on a previous tax notice issued to the company. The court held that other online games that are mainly games of skill are also not considered gambling. The single-judge held that playing games of skill with monetary stakes does not classify as betting and still remains within the realm of games of skill. The Court also held that the terms betting and gambling in the Central Goods and Services Tax Act and Rules do not include games of skill within their ambit. Gameskraft and its founders were represented by Senior Advocates Udaya Holla and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, while Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the All India Gaming Federation.
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TAGS: Karnataka High Court Rummy gambling stakes online gaming Gameskraft Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence tax notice games of skill chance betting Central Goods and Services Tax Act rules Senior Advocates Udaya Holla Abhishek Manu Singhvi Mukul Rohatgi All India Gaming Federation.
