VIJAYAWADA: With clubs, guest houses and other popular hangout places shut down temporarily in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak, a majority of the gamblers have gone online to gamble. Rummy, a card game, has emerged as the favourite.
Following the lockdown, a few online rummy platforms have witnessed an increase in registration. They are also giving discounts on their welcome offers to attract more registrations.
“I used to play cards with my friends and colleagues in the evening before the lockdown. Due to the prevailing coronavirus situation, staying indoors leaves me with plenty of idle time. Hence, I have no other option except indulge in online gaming,” said T Anil Kumar (name changed) to TOI.
In cities such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Kurnool, illegal gambling dens have been shut down. The lockdown has also hit the revenue source of organisers of the illegal gambling dens, said a senior police officer. The addicts, who earlier thronged the gambling dens, are playing rummy online for cash rewards.
“In online rummy, we have many options and we can play for small (Rs 5) and large stakes (Rs 10,000) for each game. While Covid-19 has hit many industries, it has benefitted the online gaming industry, which has seen a massive surge in the number of players from cities like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada,” said K Prabhakar, who spends at least three hours a day playing rummy online.
A senior police officer told TOI that as rummy does not fall under the Andhra Pradesh of Gaming Act, 1974, police cannot take action.
Following the lockdown, a few online rummy platforms have witnessed an increase in registration. They are also giving discounts on their welcome offers to attract more registrations.
“I used to play cards with my friends and colleagues in the evening before the lockdown. Due to the prevailing coronavirus situation, staying indoors leaves me with plenty of idle time. Hence, I have no other option except indulge in online gaming,” said T Anil Kumar (name changed) to TOI.
In cities such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Kurnool, illegal gambling dens have been shut down. The lockdown has also hit the revenue source of organisers of the illegal gambling dens, said a senior police officer. The addicts, who earlier thronged the gambling dens, are playing rummy online for cash rewards.
“In online rummy, we have many options and we can play for small (Rs 5) and large stakes (Rs 10,000) for each game. While Covid-19 has hit many industries, it has benefitted the online gaming industry, which has seen a massive surge in the number of players from cities like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada,” said K Prabhakar, who spends at least three hours a day playing rummy online.
A senior police officer told TOI that as rummy does not fall under the Andhra Pradesh of Gaming Act, 1974, police cannot take action.
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