RAIPUR: The Government of Chhattisgarh has modified the Gambling Act to include online gambling as a crime. It invites imprisonment of one to three years and fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. State Assembly on Wednesday passed the modified Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Bill 2022 with voice vote. It was brought to crack down online gambling as earlier Acts did not have any provisions or definition. The Act adds, the term online gambling was added and the gambling equipment includes electronic record, electronic device, mobile app, and electronic transfer of funds, an official communication said. The older Act did not have provision of punishment for online gambling. The new provisions are imprisonment of one to three years and fine of Rs. 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. For subsequent offences, there is a provision of imprisonment of two years to seven years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. All the offenses under the Prohibition of Gambling Act were cognizable and bailable. The new Act states that owning a gambling house (Section-4), gambling (Section-6), online gambling (Section-7), violation of advertisement prohibition (Section-11) and by the company Offense (Section-12) has been made a cognizable and non-bailable offence. The punishment is of up to six months and a fine of Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000. A higher fine and imprisonment has also been imposed on those giving false names and addresses, on being caught. Advertisements related to online gambling have also been banned, violation carries punishment of three years imprisonment.