SC seeks Centre's response on plea to regulate betting apps

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Centre's response on a plea to regulate online and offline betting applications, observing that betting and gambling are "social aberrations" that cannot be curbed through legislation alone.

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI:

A bench headed by Justice Surya Kant issued notice to the Centre but refrained from seeking responses from states, preferring to first assess the petition's feasibility after hearing the Union government.

The court directed copies be supplied to the attorney general and solicitor general for their assistance.

The public interest litigation, filed by social worker KA Paul, sought either a ban or stringent regulation of betting apps.

Paul argued that celebrities, including actors, cricketers and social media influencers, were luring youth into debt traps through their endorsements.