Tue Sep 17 07:08:53 UTC 2024: ## Tamil Nadu Pushes for KYC Verification to Curb Online Gaming Addiction Among Minors
**Chennai, September 12, 2024:** The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) has recommended the implementation of Know Your Customer (KYC) verification for all online gaming platforms in the state. This move aims to deter minors from accessing and engaging in online gaming, addressing growing concerns about addiction.
TNOGA Chairperson, Mohammad Nasimuddin, highlighted this recommendation during an awareness campaign on the harmful effects of online gaming on September 11th. The campaign was inaugurated by Chief Secretary Thiru. N. Muruganandam, I.A.S., along with ACS, Home Prohibition and Excise, Thiru. Dheeraj Kumar, IAS.
This recommendation comes amidst increasing focus from the Tamil Nadu government on regulating online gaming. In June, the government outlined plans for legislation that would impose time and usage limits on all online and real-money gaming platforms. This approach emphasizes controlling time spent on these platforms, rather than distinguishing between different types of games, to tackle addiction.
The move is driven by a growing number of incidents related to online gambling in Tamil Nadu, with at least 17 reported suicides linked to such activities by 2022. Families impacted by these incidents have called for a complete ban on online gambling. While the government is yet to establish a specific law for online gambling regulation, the proposed KYC verification is a significant step towards protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly minors, from the potential harms associated with online gaming.
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