Telangana and Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan has promulgated the Telangana Gaming (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, Deccan Chronicle reported.

This means that an official ban is now imposed in the state, on online gambling and betting.

This comes a week after the state told the Hyderabad High Court that it had decided to ban online gambling, after it received many complaints over the issue.

The court was hearing a petition filed by several companies from across the country, who had moved it, after challenging an ordinance issued by the state.

Last month, the state cabinet approved an ordinance, that made online gamblers and promoters of these games, liable for prosecution under a new law. 

The ordinance proposed to amend the Gaming Act to include and ban online gambling.

"Soon after the formation of Telangana, the CM had ordered police to crack down on clubs and other places which encourage gambling. But the government received complaints that people are now indulging in online gambling. We want to eliminate gambling in all forms. So the Gaming Act would be amended, banning online gambling. The cyber police will track online gambling and act against violators," Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari had said.

In court, the companies claimed that poker and rummy were games of 'skill', and did not rely entirely on chance and luck, thereby arguing that it was not 'gambling'. 

Meanwhile, the state contended that it has the power to regularise or prohibit the playing of rummy and poker offline and online, by treating it as an offence.

It was also reported earlier, that Cyber police would keep a watch on the websites, and identify gamblers, imposing a penalty of Rs 5,000 and one year’s imprisonment for breaking the law.

Repeat offenders may see the penalty getting doubled.