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Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana's blanket ban is turbo-charging the offshore online sports betting and casino economy, kills domestic gaming industry: finds PRAHAR consumer survey
A new report from Delhi-based civil society group PRAHAR (Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Redressal) has uncovered the persistent rise of offshore online sports betting and casino platforms in Telangana despite a sweeping state-wide ban on all kinds of online real-money platforms. The study reveals how sports betting and casino operators—most of them foreign offshore entities—continue to engage users directly through aggressive digital marketing, celebrity endorsements, and encrypted platforms, circumventing enforcement and raising critical threats to digital sovereignty and public safety. The study titled Click. Bet. Repeat: Consumer Survey on Forces Driving Online Betting and Gambling in Telangana, is based on a comprehensive field study of 2,671 respondents who indulge in real money gaming . It uncovers how foreign betting operators target Indian users through online ads, YouTube videos, Telegram groups, and meme pages, often using local influencers to add legitimacy. Explains Mr. Abhay Raj Mishra, President & National Convenor of PRAHAR: 'Telangana led the way in 2017 with a blanket ban on all online real-money plays—skill or chance—without even drawing a line between legal and illegal play. What was hailed as a bold move has, in reality, created the perfect storm for offshore sports betting and casino to thrive unchecked.' 'Eight years on, the evidence is undeniable: the ban has failed. Instead of protecting citizens, it has driven domestic operators out and handed the market on a silver platter to offshore betting syndicates. This has left users more vulnerable than ever. The newly formed SIT has its work cut out—but let's be clear: more bans and crackdowns won't solve what is now a deep-rooted menace undermining national security.', he adds Calling out strong recommendations, Mr. Mishra said 'Telangana has a rare second chance. The first, cautious step was a blanket ban; the wiser next step is bold, inclusive policy. Citizens have already moved on—real-money gaming isn't vanishing, it's evolving. The ask isn't to rubber-stamp vice, but to stay ahead of its risks by providing clean avenues for people to play real money games of skill, instead of sports betting and casino. Lead with foresight, not fear, and turn a growing reality into a safer, transparent system that works for everyone.' KEY FINDINGS Illegal, but popular, making national security a casualty 96% of users know real money gaming in Telangana is banned, yet participate in sports betting and casino, with 87% playing daily. This has pushed domestic online platforms away from Telangana, paving way for more sinister activities, with a significant national security risk. Who's Playing — a young, mostly male, broadly educated crowd Nearly two-thirds of users are under 30 (45 % are 18-25 and 17 % are 26-30), and men outnumber women four to one (78 % vs 22 %), yet at 22% women participation is significant. Education is mixed: while 42 % stopped after school, 50% hold a college degree. Students (35 %) and salaried professionals and self-employed (52 %) dominate the occupation split, and the activity cuts across income levels even though 60 % come from households earning under ₹30 000 a month. Getting In and Paying Up — offshore apps, easy work-arounds, anonymous wallets Stake, colour-prediction apps, 1xBet, 1win and Teen Patti are the five most-tried platforms (each 47–70 %). Access is effortless for 89 % of players, with 69 % relying on VPNs to hide their real identity and another 20 % using Telegram links to dodge geo-blocks, and also because they are provided with VPN links in these Telegram groups. Almost everyone plays incognito: 94 % skip real-name KYC, and 86 % fund accounts via UPI transfers routed through friends or agents, indicating existence of mule accounts, far ahead of wallets (14 %), cash (8 %) and cards (6 %). Usage Intensity — daily play, modest tickets for most Engagement is extreme: 87 % log in every day. Seven in ten spend ₹500–₹2 000 a month and 73 % keep wagers below 1 % of household income, yet 12 % already risk 5 % or more, signalling an at-risk minority. Wins, Losses and the 'I'm Ahead' Illusion Losses are almost universal (99 %), but so are wins (99 %). Four-fifths have lost between ₹1 000 and ₹10 000, while 71 % have won in the same band; about one in five have crossed the ₹10 000 mark on winnings and 5 % on losses. The near balance feeds the belief—held by 83 %—that they are net positive overall. Mindset & Motivations — chasing quick cash and social proof A spectacular 97 % play for the chance of quick money, 61 % cite entertainment, and half mention social acceptance. Tales of huge payouts lure 87 % into their first game and remain the chief reason (86 %) that grim media stories of debt or suicide do not scare them off. Players also underestimate danger: 64 % think fewer than 1 % of gamblers get into serious trouble. Consumer Sentiment — ban rejected, legalizing welcomed Almost everyone (96 %) knows the pastime is illegal in Telangana, yet plays anyway; 94 % now want the state to legalise and regulate real-money gaming, while only 6 % back the current blanket ban.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Online betting rampant in Telangana, majority aged 18-25; low-income groups 79% report losing over Rs 50,000
HYDERABAD: A majority of people involved in online gambling and betting in Telangana are aged between 18 and 25, according to a survey conducted by the Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Redressal (PRAHAR), an NGO. The findings were revealed on Friday at an event titled 'Click:Bet:Repeat: Consumer Survey on the Forces Driving Online Betting and Gambling', held in Telangana, where online betting is banned. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The survey, conducted over the past six weeks, covered 2,761 punters from across the state. It found that the majority of the respondents who placed bets came from low-income backgrounds, with nearly 38% of them earning a monthly income of less than Rs 15,000. The study focussed on users accessing betting platforms through apps available on the Play Store, as well as through links available on Telegram or advertisements on social media. 'Telegram popular choice' "Players are careful not to reveal their true identities while betting, which makes VPNs the most popular choice - used by 69% of respondents. Telegram links are the second popular choice at 20%," said president of PRAHAR Abhay Raj, during a press findings highlighted that online betting continues unabated in the state despite the ban. "For instance, 87% of the respondents said they engage in online gambling every day, and 89% of the respondents said betting sites are easily accessible. Most of the respondents - 96% - knew that it was illegal too," the survey found. The majority of them said they were drawn into the betting to make easy money. "The prospects of winning large sums from meagre investment attracts 86% of users, while 56% continue betting because they believe others are winning big," a member from the NGO said. The respondents claimed that they had lost more than they invested. According to the data, 79% of punters reported losses exceeding Rs 50,000. He recommended that Telangana consider implementing a conditional ban, similar to the one followed in Tamil Nadu.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
Offshore betting thrives in Telangana despite blanket ban: Study
Despite Telangana's blanket ban on online real-money gaming, 87% of users still bet daily, mostly on offshore casino and sports platforms, according to a latest survey by a civil society organisation — Public Response Against Helplessness & Action for Redressal (PRAHAR). According to the study 'Click. Bet. Repeat', 96% of the respondents, who all indulge in real-money gaming, are aware that such activity is illegal in Telangana. Yet a staggering 87% report betting daily, primarily on offshore sports betting and casino platforms that operate beyond the reach of Indian law. Based on responses from 2,671 users, the study captures the widespread reliance on foreign operators and the easy circumvention of legal restrictions. Nearly 89% said they face virtually no barriers to accessing these platforms. VPNs, Telegram links, and anonymous wallets have become common workarounds, with 94% of users bypassing real-name KYC protocols and 86% funding their accounts through UPI transfers via agents or friends. Stake, 1xBet, 1win, Teen Patti 979, and colour-prediction apps emerged as the most frequently used platforms. Users reported being targeted through social media advertisements, influencer promotions, WhatsApp messages, and calls, indicating the depth of digital outreach these operators deploy. The user base is predominantly young, male, and digitally savvy. Around 62% are under 30, and while men dominate at 78%, women account for a significant 22%. The activity cuts across income brackets, with 60% from households earning below ₹30,000 per month. Despite frequent losses — 99% have lost money — most respondents still believe they are net gainers. 'The average monthly spends between ₹500–₹5,000 may seem minor, but add up significantly over time, especially for low-income users,' the report said. Interestingly, while awareness of the ban is nearly universal, 94% of respondents want real-money gaming platforms to be legalised and regulated in the State. PRAHAR president Abhay Raj Mishra said the findings illustrate a policy failure. 'What was seen as a bold preventive measure in 2017 has only succeeded in driving out domestic operators and inviting offshore syndicates to dominate the market. The result is a thriving grey economy that undermines national security and digital sovereignty,' he said.
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Alarming Rise in Online Gambling and Betting in Telangana Since 2017: PRAHAR Announces State-Wide Citizen Survey to Understand Public Expectations
Despite being the first Indian state to enforce a complete ban on online gaming back in 2017, Telangana continues to witness a dramatic rise in illegal online gambling and betting activities. Fueled by foreign platforms, anonymous digital transactions, and unregulated mobile apps, this underground ecosystem has grown more sophisticated, elusive—and dangerous. PRAHAR (Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Redressal), a Delhi based NGO working at the intersection of digital governance and national security, has announced the launch of a large-scale citizen survey across 2,500 respondents in Telangana. The objective is to understand how people perceive online betting and gambling vs online gaming, what they want from regulation, and how compliance can be ensured by building alignment between public expectations and government actions. 'Our research shows that while the rapid penetration of the digital ecosystem across India—even at the grassroots level—is tremendously empowering, it has also introduced new vulnerabilities. Hidden players are actively exploiting this space to advance their agendas. In the absence of a strong national regulatory framework, illegal betting and online gambling platforms are being weaponized as financial engines and recruitment gateways. There is growing evidence to suggest that these syndicates are linked to actors and invisible hands with far more sinister intentions—aimed at undermining India's sovereignty and political stability,' said Abhay Raj Mishra, President and National Convenor of PRAHAR. 'It is essential that we understand what the people of Telangana want—not just for better compliance, but also for social consensus. Compliance becomes natural when there is no conflict between public expectations and government actions. That is why we are launching this survey.' This new initiative builds upon two recent PRAHAR research studies. The first, titled 'The Invisible Hand', uncovered how foreign-owned digital platforms are being used to entrap Indian users and funnel them into a cycle of financial exploitation, data theft, radicalisation, and identity compromise. According to projections in the report, India could face up to 17 trillion cyberattacks annually by 2047. In Telangana specifically, cybercrime cases linked to online gambling rose by over 800% between 2020 and 2025, with money laundering, youth suicides, and celebrity-endorsed betting apps all forming part of the challenge. The second research effort was a comprehensive survey conducted among 5,000 youth across Tamil Nadu—Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchirappalli—focused on their attitudes and behaviours towards online gaming. Strikingly, 75% of participants could not distinguish between legal and illegal gaming platforms, while 86% were against any form of state-imposed limits on gameplay time or money. This reflected a broader insight: young Indians are not opposed to regulation, but they reject blanket bans that offer no clear legal or safe alternative. These insights are particularly relevant for Telangana, which banned all forms of online gaming, including games of skill, in 2017. Yet over the years, illegal networks have not only survived but scaled. In 2025 alone, over 3,900 betting-related violations were recorded in the state, and 25 celebrities and influencers were booked for promoting banned betting platforms. The use of VPNs, Telegram groups, foreign-hosted servers, and proxy agents has rendered enforcement incredibly complex. Additionally, tragic incidents of suicide among young bettors burdened by debt have made headlines in recent months. What emerges from this is a worrying paradox: prohibition in law has not translated to prevention in practice. And citizens are often left with little understanding of what is legal, what is not, and how to make informed choices in the absence of credible, accessible platforms. To address this gap, PRAHAR's Telangana survey will explore three key dimensions—awareness, usage, and aspirations. What do citizens know about betting laws? How do they engage with online platforms? And what kind of framework do they believe can work for them, their families, and society at large? 'Our role is not to prescribe a policy solution for Telangana,' added Mr. Mishra. 'Our role is to help surface the voice of the people—because when regulation reflects public will, it doesn't need enforcement. It earns voluntary compliance.' The survey results, expected in a months' time, will be shared with policymakers, civil society, and the public to foster a data-driven conversation on what regulation should look like in a digitally empowered, yet secure, India.
