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Politics
Ponnjekars Against Casinos Protest Against Child Entry in Indian Casinos
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 18 Jul 2026, 09:16 AM
👁 1
The Ponnjekars Against Casinos group has launched a campaign to ban children from entering casinos, urging stricter enforcement of age restrictions in the gaming sector.
The Ponnjekars Against Casinos (PAC) has announced a nationwide campaign to prohibit children from entering casino premises. PAC, a civil society group that has been active in lobbying for responsible gambling, argues that allowing minors in casinos exposes them to gambling addiction and related harms.
PAC’s spokesperson said that current regulations permit entry of individuals as young as 18, but enforcement is lax in many gaming establishments. The group is calling for the Ministry of Finance and the Gaming Control Board to tighten age verification processes and impose penalties for non‑compliance.
The campaign includes public rallies, social media outreach, and petitions to lawmakers. PAC has already gathered over 5,000 signatures demanding that casinos implement stricter ID checks and that any violation be met with fines or license suspension.
If successful, the initiative could set a precedent for stricter age controls across India’s growing casino industry, potentially reducing the exposure of minors to gambling environments.
PAC’s spokesperson said that current regulations permit entry of individuals as young as 18, but enforcement is lax in many gaming establishments. The group is calling for the Ministry of Finance and the Gaming Control Board to tighten age verification processes and impose penalties for non‑compliance.
The campaign includes public rallies, social media outreach, and petitions to lawmakers. PAC has already gathered over 5,000 signatures demanding that casinos implement stricter ID checks and that any violation be met with fines or license suspension.
If successful, the initiative could set a precedent for stricter age controls across India’s growing casino industry, potentially reducing the exposure of minors to gambling environments.