The Ban Backfired in India: Illegal Gambling Market Grows

A survey found that the lifetime gambling rate reaches 46 percent in some regions of India. Serious betting addiction was found in 7.4 percent of respondents, and it is noted that this figure may be underreported. In 2025, the government banned the regulated gambling sector with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act.

However, the strict ban has not solved the problem. In a country of 1.4 billion people, the illegal offshore gambling sector continues to grow. Estimates put the value of the illegal market above 60 billion US dollars (about 44.9 billion pounds sterling), and Blask data shows that hundreds of foreign brands are competing for users.

Support services are limited, and there is no comprehensive public health response to the harm caused by gambling. According to an estimate published in The Lancet, five to 10 people are adversely affected for every person in India who has a gambling problem. In communities where family ties are strong, these outcomes extend far beyond the individual.

In October 2024, a family died by suicide in Yedapally, a small village in the southern state of Telangana. According to the police statement, 22-year-old Harish had lost 1.8 million rupees (about 14,000 pounds sterling) gambling. His parents lost their land and savings while trying to free him from his debts. According to relatives, Harish became dependent on mobile gambling during the pandemic. According to the police, he borrowed from 12 villagers, after which the family took their own lives together. The Telangana government reported that it recorded 51 gambling-related suicides in the state between 2023 and February 2026.