Gaming
Madras HC refuses to stay Tamil Nadu’s ordinance banning online gambling
NEW DELHI: The Madras high court has declined to grant an interim stay on the Tamil Nadu government’s ordinance banning online gambling and games, including online rummy.
Appearing for the state, advocate general Vijay Narayan today sought more time and urged the court to adjourn the matter till after Pongal. He also mentioned that there is a possibility that an act against online gambling may be presented in the legislative assembly in January, which may or may not be in the same form as the ordinance. However, the court clarified that no further extension would be given in the matter to file the counter.
He argued that children are playing online rummy using their parents' credit card and the ordinance would nearly have any effect on the operations of the petitioners given that only two states – Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh – have banned online rummy.
Previously, the court had refused to stay the ordinance on a petition moved by online gaming platform Junglee.
Appearing for Junglee, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that the petitioners wanted an early resolution of the matter, adding that they can establish that online rummy is safer than rummy played in other places. He claimed that the business is getting impacted as it wrongly stopped.
Meanwhile, Gameskraft Technologies also joined in the challenge mounted against the ordinance, in so far as it relates to online rummy. Advocate Mohan Parasaran, the counsel appearing for Gameskraft, urged the court to at least pass orders that no coercive action be taken against the petitioners in the interim.
However, the bench refused to grant any interim relief save for the filing of a counter-affidavit by the state, and fixed the matter for further hearing on 18 January.
Last month, Tamil Nadu became the third state in India to enforce a ban on online games and gambling after governor Banwarilal Purohit promulgated an ordinance on the same. The move came in the wake of a spate of suicides in the state by gamblers who lost money playing these online betting games.
Gaming
Konami concludes successful eFootball India campaign
Campaign featuring Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and other stars boosts engagement ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
MUMBAI: When cricket meets football in the virtual world, even the biggest fans can’t help but score and Konami’s latest eFootball campaign in India has clearly hit the back of the net. Konami Digital Entertainment has successfully wrapped up its India campaign for eFootball, which brought together cricketers Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, actors Naslen Gafoor and Chandu Salim Kumar, and footballers Sahal Abdul Samad and Shubhasish Bose. The multi-star campaign generated strong excitement across gaming, football, and creator communities through social content, fan participation, and in-game engagement.
Building on the initial launch that featured a limited-time Lionel Messi card, the campaign united fan communities, lifestyle creators, football creators, and competitive eFootball influencers. It significantly expanded the game’s visibility and deepened engagement with fans across the country.
The campaign also saw thousands of entries submitted as part of its social media engagement challenge, reflecting high levels of community enthusiasm and active creator involvement.
Looking ahead, Konami plans to build on this momentum with more eFootball experiences for Indian fans as the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches. With global attention on the tournament set to rise, India will remain a key market for deepening community engagement and bringing fans closer to the action.
In a country that lives and breathes sport, Konami has shown that mixing real-world stars with virtual thrills is a winning formula leaving fans eagerly waiting for the next goal.
