As Indians take up online games, gambling fears grow
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B. Bhavani, 29, committed suicide in June after gambling. She had been using online apps to play games like rummy for a year. Her husband estimates she lost more than 1 million Indian rupees. There is a growing concern about gambling addiction and gambling-related suicides in India. The federal government has set up a task force to draft a new law to regulate online gaming. Some Indian states have already banned online real-money games. Internet safety campaigners say the current law is woefully inadequate. They call for better regulation and education of users. and better monitoring of apps by platforms.
India's mobile gaming industry is forecast to more than triple in worth to US$5 billion by 2025. The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has challenged Tamil Nadu's ban on rummy and poker. AIGf represents about 100 of India's more that 900 gaming companies.
The federal government task force recommended a regulation of online games based on skill or chance. Google allowed games such as rummy and fantasy sports on its Play Store in India. Tamil Nadu state committee recommended ban on all online card games. 17 suicides in Tamil state in the past three years were linked to online gaming. Tech policy expert Vivan Sharan called for a holistic approach including ethical game design, responsible advertising, treatment facilities for problem gamblers, and monitoring by platforms for vulnerable players.
