With their gaming skills and knowledge, players can also earn money. The day-by-daydream modification is frequently utilized on Indian dream sports websites such as betbhai9 and app. To participate in a challenge, managers must pay an entry fee, with the prize money determined by the stage. The directors must select a commander and chief-commander among the eleven participants and their presentation typically contains some added emphasis. The Manager having the most prominent focuses at the conclusion of the game wins.

Online fantasy sports league games (also known as “Fantasy Games”) are gaining popularity and attracting an increasing number of investors. The recent shutdown in India and around the world has halted sporting events, affecting the world777 Fantasy Gaming sector. While the industry grapples with the effects of COVID-19, this article examines current developments in India about the legality of such Fantasy Games, which could have a significant impact on the industry.

While governments in Telangana, Assam, and Odisha make no distinction between the two and provide no exception for skill games, this classification is essential for evaluating the legality in the remaining Indian states.

WHICH IS BETTER IN FANTASY SPORT: CHANCE OR SKILL?

Fantasy sports is not a game of chance, but one of skill. The Supreme Court of India, like the Supreme Court of the United States, has utilized the “predominance test” to evaluate the nature of certain games. A player’s expert identifies a game of skill, and the player determines the game’s outcome. While the outcome of a game of chance is determined by random causes, its occurrence or non-occurrence is merely a matter of probability.

In State of Andra Pradesh v. Satyanarayana[1], the Supreme Court clarified that rummy is not a game of chance because it involves the shuffling and dealing of cards that do not follow a set pattern and are instead based on the location of the card when it is shuffled. Hence, we cannot claim that a round of Rummy is a round of all possible outcomes. It is primarily and majorly a talent show.

Fantasy Sports Lawfulness

As in Dr. K.R.Lakshmanan v. State of Tamil Nadu[2], the Supreme Court held that horse racing is a game of skill, not a game of chance, because the capacity of the bettors is being evaluated, as well as information about the horse’s health, expertise, jockey, etc. Similarly, the Supreme Court held that where the success of competitions depends on a substantial degree of skill, it is not gambling because the game is predetermined.

In a recent case, Varun Gumbert v. Union Territory of Chandigarh (2017 Cri LJ 3827), the Punjab & Haryana High Court examined this issue and determined that playing Fantasy Games Online Cricket ID was a skill game. No appeal against this judgement was heard by the Supreme Court. The Bombay High Court reached a similar result in Gurdeep Singh Sachar v. Union of India ((2019) 75 GST 258 (Bombay)), as did the Rajasthan High Court in Chandresh Sankhla v. State of Rajasthan (2020 SCC Online Raj 264).

The Supreme Court refused the Union of India’s special leave appeal contesting the Bombay High Court’s ruling in Gurdeep Singh Sachar. In contrast, in a decision dated December 13, 2019, Justices R. F. Nariman and S. R. Bhat approved the Union of India to file a limited review petition with the Bombay High Court over GST avoidance.

Fantasy Sports Regulations

The State of Maharashtra also filed a plea for special leave to appeal the judgement of the Bombay High Court. The bench stayed the Bombay High Court’s decision and issued a hearing notice for March 6, 2020. As the case progresses, the Supreme Court will likely revisit the whole Gurdeep Singh Sachar ruling of the Bombay High Court.

While the decisions of the Punjab & Haryana High Court and the Rajasthan High Court remain in effect, there is comfort in the Supreme Court’s approach in the appeal from the Punjab & Haryana High Court in the case of Varun Gumber, as well as Justice R. F. Nariman’s orders in the appeals from the Bombay High Court in the case of Gurdeep Singh Sachar. However, the Supreme Court’s recent decision to consider the appeal may cause some uncertainty.

Uncertain is whether the Supreme Court will reconsider the legality of world777 Fantasy Games or focus simply on their taxability.