Uttarakhand Cracks Down on Gambling with New Stringent Bill | Headlines
Uttarakhand introduces a new bill to replace a 19th-century law, imposing stricter penalties for gambling activities.Summary
The Uttarakhand government has proposed the Uttarakhand Public Gambling Prevention Bill, 2026, aiming to replace the outdated Public Gambling Act of 1867. The new bill introduces significantly harsher penalties for both individuals participating in gambling and those operating gambling businesses. Penalties range from fines and short jail terms for public gambling to lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines for organizing or running gambling dens. Specifically, gambling in public areas could result in up to three months imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine, while operating gambling inside private properties could lead to two years in prison or a Rs 10,000 fine. More serious offenses, like running a gambling den, could attract up to five years in jail or a Rs 1 lakh fine, and organized gambling may incur sentences of three to five years and fines up to Rs 10 lakh.
(Source：Devdiscourse)