Report highlights risk from illegal gambling platforms on Indian youth
Illegal gambling has become a serious threat as gambling sites are raking in estimated yearly deposits of almost US$100 billion, according to a report from the Indian non-profit organization Consumer Unity & Trust Society.
The report warned specifically how the youth of India are at risk from these illegal sites and states that regulatory intervention is needed.
It outlined that between April 2024 and March 2025, the top 15 of these illegal gambling platforms received over 5.4 billion visits.
Pradeep Mehta, the secretary general of CUTS, mentioned that India’s lack of regulatory bodies made it a prime target, saying, “These operators are exploiting India’s advertisement and payment systems, siphoning off crores while putting Indian consumers at grave risk.”
The report went on to illustrate how these illegal platforms use nefarious tactics to lure in younger customers, allowing them to bypass age and identity verification checks. It also stated that more than 66% of user traffic comes from direct URLs on private channels.
The report concluded by recommending the establishment of a national framework working in conjunction with tech companies, public awareness campaigns, and behavioural research into gambling addiction to help combat the issue.
Last month, the Supreme Court of India heard a plea by politician Dr Kilari Anand Paul to ban all online sports betting apps due to their effect on the country’s youth.
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