Following the complete ban on gambling, the proportion of active players in India has not decreased. However, they have shifted to illegal foreign platforms.
Data from CUTS International, based on a survey of 3,000 active players, showed that they began playing at casinos registered abroad 25% more frequently. The activity of these players has also increased—over 40% of all users spend more than 2 hours a day on illegal gambling sites.
Amol Kulkarni, Director of CUTS International, noted that the ban has not reduced the number of problem gamblers in the country, but has merely shifted the geography of their gambling activities. The company is calling on the government to abandon the total ban on gambling and move toward effective regulation. This would ensure that gambling remains under state control, which would protect players. Since the current state policy on gambling increases not only financial but also moral risks for players—as the unregulated market places no restrictions on access to casinos for those suffering from gambling addiction.
