India's Tamil Nadu sees 25 online gambling deaths
Indian politician S. Ramadoss has criticised the Tamil Nadu government, stating that online gambling-related suicides have risen to 25 in the last 18 months. He accused the state of failing to take effective measures despite growing concerns over financial losses and addiction linked to real-money gaming platforms. Ramadoss is founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), is an Indian regional political party based in the state of Tamil Nadu.
His statement comes after a 27-year-old man, Kanagaraj, from Trichy, died by suicide after reportedly losing lakhs of rupees through online gambling.
Rising deaths linked to online gambling
In a statement on Sunday, Ramadoss pointed out that Kanagaraj, who had been married just nine months, is the latest victim of online gambling losses. The PMK leader stated that since the Madras High Court’s ruling on 9 November 2023, which clarified that the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act does not apply to rummy and poker, 25 people have died by suicide due to gambling-related distress.
Tamil Nadu’s new online gaming regulations
Recently Tamil Nadu introduced strict rules under the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (Real Money Games) Regulations, 2025. The new regulations aim to control online real-money gaming and reduce harm.
Key provisions include:
- Ban on minors: Individuals under 18 are prohibited from playing real-money games.
- Mandatory KYC verification: Players must complete Aadhaar-based KYC verification, including OTP authentication.
- Playtime restrictions: Platforms must issue pop-up warnings after one hour of continuous gaming, with additional alerts every 30 minutes.
- Spending limits: Players can set daily, weekly, and monthly deposit limits. A reminder will be displayed whenever a deposit is made.
- Warning labels: A mandatory cautionary message, “Online Gaming is Addictive in Nature,” must be displayed on login screens.
- Restricted gaming hours: Access to real-money gaming platforms will be blocked between midnight and 5 AM to prevent excessive gaming.
Regulatory background and legal precedents
Tamil Nadu has previously attempted to regulate online gaming through legislative measures. The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022, classified rummy and poker as games of chance and sought to ban them. However, the Madras High Court invalidated key provisions of the law, citing constitutional concerns, particularly in differentiating between games of skill and chance. A subsequent appeal remains pending before the Supreme Court of India.
This new framework follows rising concerns over gaming addiction and financial distress. In 2022, at least 17 suicides in Tamil Nadu were linked to online gambling, leading to increased pressure on the government to implement protective measures.
