₹10 lakh crore online betting market in India:1.5 crore people bet daily despite ban, 854 influencers promote illegal activity

Despite stricter laws on online betting, the market has not disappeared in the country. According to the report, the country’s online betting market is worth around ₹10 lakh crore. After the laws were tightened, companies shifted their platforms overseas and are now operating through mule accounts and Telegram. More than 540 crore visits have been recorded on 805 online betting platforms in the country. This means around 1.5 crore people are accessing these platforms every day. The report also said that 854 influencers are involved in promoting betting. New methods are being adopted to evade the law. Companies are operating platforms from overseas, while mule accounts, Telegram groups, and other means are being used to reach users and process transactions. 8 crore adults worldwide addicted to betting According to the report, 8 crore adults worldwide are struggling with betting addiction. Its impact is not limited to the person who places bets. On average, six people are affected by each user. According to the report, 60% of users lose money. This can affect their treatment and education, with consequences that may continue for generations. Algorithms make users addicted to games Misleading designs, addiction-promoting algorithms, bots, and agents are used during real-money games in online gaming. Winning gives users a sense of reward. After losing, they try to place the next and larger bet in an attempt to recover the money. According to the World Health Organisation, the three signs of addiction are losing control, giving priority to betting, and continuing to play despite the harm. Three Years in prison, fine of up to ₹1 Crore in India Running an online money game or facilitating payments for it can lead to up to three years in prison and a fine of up to ₹1 crore. Advertising it can lead to up to two years in prison and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh. Repeating the offence of operating the game or facilitating payments can lead to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to ₹2 crore. The offences are cognisable and non-bailable. Arrests can be made without a warrant. International monitoring and platform accountability needed Ritesh Bhatia, cyber and data privacy expert, said: 1. The internet has no borders. Blocking a betting website or app is not a permanent solution — the company simply returns by creating a new domain, app, or APK file. 2. This cannot be eliminated through bans alone, without dismantling the underlying network. All countries need to come together to frame shared rules. Information-sharing between relevant agencies and continuous monitoring are essential. 3. Online betting is also linked to money laundering and financial security, as illegal funds can be converted into crypto and moved to other countries. Therefore, technical monitoring, platform accountability, and international coordination are all necessary.