TANTANMEN BLOG ~ India is experiencing a massive spike in illegal online gambling, with a staggering 1.6 billion visits recorded within just three months. This explosive growth raises concerns over regulatory challenges, financial risks, and the increasing allure of unlicensed betting platforms. Authorities are now under pressure to curb the rising trend as online gambling continues to thrive in the shadows.
Illegal Online Betting Surges in India: 1.6 Billion Visits in Just Three Months
NEW DELHI, Illegal online gambling and financial betting have skyrocketed in India, with a shocking 1.6 billion visits recorded in just three months, according to a report by the Digital India Foundation. The study revealed that organic visits alone crossed 184 millionβfar surpassing the 42.8 million visits generated via social media.
A key factor fueling this underground industry is the rise of mirror websites, which help bypass restrictions. Three Parimatch mirror sites alone raked in an additional 266 million visits, underscoring the scale of the unregulated betting landscape.
Despite government crackdowns, including website blocks and regulatory advisories, illegal gambling operators continue to flourish. They leverage aggressive digital marketing, sophisticated payment gateways, and mirror sites to evade detectionβposing a major challenge for enforcement agencies.
India’s Illegal Online Gambling Boom: Report Calls for Stronger Enforcement Measures
NEW DELHI β A recent report by ANI attributes the explosive growth of illegal online betting in India to advanced digital marketing tactics, seamless payment systems, and mirror websites that allow these platforms to bypass enforcement efforts.
The report highlighted a major loophole: while most digital platforms officially ban gambling-related promotions, enforcement remains inconsistent. Notably, advertisements on Facebook’s Ad Network have surged in recent years, further fueling the expansion of these illegal operations.
In 2023, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance expressed serious concerns over how online betting sites could facilitate money laundering and terror financing. Adding to this, the study found that over 1.09 billion visits to illegal platforms came from users directly entering website URLs, demonstrating the long-lasting influence of past marketing efforts and referral networks.
The report also examined global case studies from the UK, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and the United States, where simple website blocks proved ineffective. Instead, these nations have seen better success by implementing a multi-layered strategyβcombining website restrictions with marketing bans, payment blocking, and curated whitelists and blacklists.
A Call for Stronger, Ecosystem-Based Action
To combat the growing threat of illegal betting, the report urged India to move away from its fragmented enforcement strategy and adopt a comprehensive, ecosystem-driven approach. Key recommendations include:
Stricter regulations on digital media to curb gambling-related advertisements.
Stronger financial controls to block illicit transactions and money flows.
Enhanced enforcement mechanisms to dismantle the infrastructure supporting illegal betting networks.
With illegal gambling operations continuing to thrive, the report stressed that India must take urgent, coordinated action to disrupt these networks at their core.
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