MUMBAI: The thrill of placing a bet on a virtual game with just a tap on a phone screen quickly spiralled into a real-world nightmare for a young woman. Shweta (not her real name), a working professional in her mid-twenties, was drawn into the addictive world of online casino gaming till mounting debts pushed her to attempt suicide.
Now, having survived that dark chapter, she is determined to bring awareness to this often-underestimated risk and support those struggling with similar battles.
Shweta's journey into the high-stakes world of online casino games began innocuously enough last year. Scrolling through social media, she found an attractive advertisement for a platform that hosted sports betting, slots and dealer games, tailored specifically for Indian players. Out of curiosity, she visited the website and created an account, linking it to her digital wallet.
"Working from home at the time, I would play online after work or at night," Shweta recounted. Initially, luck seemed to be on her side as she won some of the games. "I remember spending just Rs 5,000 and winning as much as Rs 2 lakh against it. It was an incredible feeling. I could buy gifts for my parents," she said. Emboldened by the early success, Shweta began to wager larger amounts.
The online platform offered special bonuses whenever a player reloaded his/ her account balance. Shweta's parents inquired about the sudden influx of funds but she told them that she had been trading in shares. Soon the tide turned and her initial winning streak ended. "I kept playing, convinced that a big win was just around the corner," Shweta said. She took out a personal loan of Rs 7 lakh, fueled by the hope of a turnaround. But the windfall never materialized. "My savings were vanishing rapidly," she said. "I started borrowing from friends, making up stories if they asked why I needed funds."
As debts mounted, she eventually spilled out the truth before her parents. Though heartbroken, her family stepped in to clear the debts. "My father, in his disappointment, said he would have gladly given me the same amount if I had wanted to travel the world," Shweta recalled.
For a brief period thereafter, she managed to stay away from online games involving money. But the temptation proved too strong to resist. Earlier this year, she took out another loan of Rs 2 lakh to play. The familiar cycle of debt and despair began anew.
"The stress of the repayments took over my entire life. I lost my appetite, and sleep became a distant luxury. Even when I managed to go out with friends, my debts were the only thing I could think about," she said. Under the weight of this constant pressure, Shweta tried to end her life. Fortunately, her family found her in time and rushed her to a doctor.
"Following this traumatic event, I was very fragile. The next six weeks were a grueling period of multiple surgeries at Bhatia Hospital. I was navigating both physical pain and dark thoughts, but the support of my parents and treating doctor, Shailesh Ranade, saw me through," she recalled.
Back home now, Shweta is determined to share her experience, particularly with youngsters lured by the same digital traps. "My advice is simple: Easy money is a myth. This is a bottomless pit and you will keep sinking. If you're in trouble, talk to someone you trust. Don't bottle up your feelings. And never consider taking a drastic step. I am so grateful for this second chance at life," she said.
Her biggest regret was not reaching out for help sooner. "Talking to someone about my gaming and the resultant stress would have made a world of difference," she said.
Shweta's experience with virtual money games is not an isolated incident. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Avinash De Sousa observed a worrying rise in gaming addiction and pathological gambling, particularly among young adults aged 17 to 30. "Celebrities openly endorsing virtual money games make the common man believe that it is acceptable. The ease of downloading gaming apps due to widespread internet access further exacerbates this issue," he said.
Dr De Sousa described pathological gambling and gaming addictions as process addictions where the underlying issues like impulsivity, anger, or depression, need to be treated. The family of a patient is often unaware of the escalating addiction until it culminates into a crisis. "Such patients require significant therapy and counselling. We would advice their families to ensure the patient has limited internet access and minimum funds in their bank accounts to reduce temptation," he said.
Sonali Patankar, co-founder of the non-profit, Responsible Netism, believes that "addiction by design" is a major issue across the internet. "Elements like logo placement, colors, and the user interface are all carefully constructed to keep users engaged, no matter their age. There are no legal guidelines regulating design," said Patankar.
The legal landscape surrounding online money games remains complex. "The colonial-era Public Gambling Act doesn't cover online gambling. Furthermore, the Supreme Court, in the case of KR Lakshmanan v/s State of Tamil Nadu, ruled that an activity requiring a significant degree of skill cannot be classified as betting or gambling," said advocate Dr Prashant Mali, a cyber lawyer.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced regulations in 2023, amending the Information Technology Rules to specifically address online real money games. While the Amendments provide Central-level regulations, they do not replace state-level anti-gambling laws.
Dr Mali emphasized the need for stricter action against illegal payment gateways utilized by gaming platforms. "These gateways do not adhere to RBI guidelines and are run by fly-by-night operators," he said.
Cybercrime lawyer Pankaj Bafna draws attention to concerning practices employed by some gaming apps. "Certain platforms convert winnings into points which can be redeemed via vouchers. But for redemption, players would have to download a separate app, which is not based in India," he says. Then there are gaming apps that offer rewards in cryptocurrency wallets. "In 2023, the scope of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was expanded and cryptocurrency businesses, such as exchanges and wallet providers, now fall under the purview of this law. This means they must comply with the law's anti money laundering obligations," Bafna said.
Now, having survived that dark chapter, she is determined to bring awareness to this often-underestimated risk and support those struggling with similar battles.
Shweta's journey into the high-stakes world of online casino games began innocuously enough last year. Scrolling through social media, she found an attractive advertisement for a platform that hosted sports betting, slots and dealer games, tailored specifically for Indian players. Out of curiosity, she visited the website and created an account, linking it to her digital wallet.
"Working from home at the time, I would play online after work or at night," Shweta recounted. Initially, luck seemed to be on her side as she won some of the games. "I remember spending just Rs 5,000 and winning as much as Rs 2 lakh against it. It was an incredible feeling. I could buy gifts for my parents," she said. Emboldened by the early success, Shweta began to wager larger amounts.
The online platform offered special bonuses whenever a player reloaded his/ her account balance. Shweta's parents inquired about the sudden influx of funds but she told them that she had been trading in shares. Soon the tide turned and her initial winning streak ended. "I kept playing, convinced that a big win was just around the corner," Shweta said. She took out a personal loan of Rs 7 lakh, fueled by the hope of a turnaround. But the windfall never materialized. "My savings were vanishing rapidly," she said. "I started borrowing from friends, making up stories if they asked why I needed funds."
As debts mounted, she eventually spilled out the truth before her parents. Though heartbroken, her family stepped in to clear the debts. "My father, in his disappointment, said he would have gladly given me the same amount if I had wanted to travel the world," Shweta recalled.
For a brief period thereafter, she managed to stay away from online games involving money. But the temptation proved too strong to resist. Earlier this year, she took out another loan of Rs 2 lakh to play. The familiar cycle of debt and despair began anew.
"The stress of the repayments took over my entire life. I lost my appetite, and sleep became a distant luxury. Even when I managed to go out with friends, my debts were the only thing I could think about," she said. Under the weight of this constant pressure, Shweta tried to end her life. Fortunately, her family found her in time and rushed her to a doctor.
"Following this traumatic event, I was very fragile. The next six weeks were a grueling period of multiple surgeries at Bhatia Hospital. I was navigating both physical pain and dark thoughts, but the support of my parents and treating doctor, Shailesh Ranade, saw me through," she recalled.
Back home now, Shweta is determined to share her experience, particularly with youngsters lured by the same digital traps. "My advice is simple: Easy money is a myth. This is a bottomless pit and you will keep sinking. If you're in trouble, talk to someone you trust. Don't bottle up your feelings. And never consider taking a drastic step. I am so grateful for this second chance at life," she said.
Her biggest regret was not reaching out for help sooner. "Talking to someone about my gaming and the resultant stress would have made a world of difference," she said.
Shweta's experience with virtual money games is not an isolated incident. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Avinash De Sousa observed a worrying rise in gaming addiction and pathological gambling, particularly among young adults aged 17 to 30. "Celebrities openly endorsing virtual money games make the common man believe that it is acceptable. The ease of downloading gaming apps due to widespread internet access further exacerbates this issue," he said.
Dr De Sousa described pathological gambling and gaming addictions as process addictions where the underlying issues like impulsivity, anger, or depression, need to be treated. The family of a patient is often unaware of the escalating addiction until it culminates into a crisis. "Such patients require significant therapy and counselling. We would advice their families to ensure the patient has limited internet access and minimum funds in their bank accounts to reduce temptation," he said.
Sonali Patankar, co-founder of the non-profit, Responsible Netism, believes that "addiction by design" is a major issue across the internet. "Elements like logo placement, colors, and the user interface are all carefully constructed to keep users engaged, no matter their age. There are no legal guidelines regulating design," said Patankar.
The legal landscape surrounding online money games remains complex. "The colonial-era Public Gambling Act doesn't cover online gambling. Furthermore, the Supreme Court, in the case of KR Lakshmanan v/s State of Tamil Nadu, ruled that an activity requiring a significant degree of skill cannot be classified as betting or gambling," said advocate Dr Prashant Mali, a cyber lawyer.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) introduced regulations in 2023, amending the Information Technology Rules to specifically address online real money games. While the Amendments provide Central-level regulations, they do not replace state-level anti-gambling laws.
Dr Mali emphasized the need for stricter action against illegal payment gateways utilized by gaming platforms. "These gateways do not adhere to RBI guidelines and are run by fly-by-night operators," he said.
Cybercrime lawyer Pankaj Bafna draws attention to concerning practices employed by some gaming apps. "Certain platforms convert winnings into points which can be redeemed via vouchers. But for redemption, players would have to download a separate app, which is not based in India," he says. Then there are gaming apps that offer rewards in cryptocurrency wallets. "In 2023, the scope of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was expanded and cryptocurrency businesses, such as exchanges and wallet providers, now fall under the purview of this law. This means they must comply with the law's anti money laundering obligations," Bafna said.
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