Mapping the Ecosystem of Illegal Online Gambling Operators in India

Background

The illegal online gambling ecosystem in India has grown significantly in recent years. This growth is fueled by the adaptability of these platforms to modern technology, leveraging mobile apps, websites, and social media to reach a wide audience, including remote areas. Despite regulatory efforts, illegal operators exploit loopholes in legal frameworks, financial systems, and enforcement mechanisms, often using mirror URLs to evade detection. India’s fragmented regulatory landscape, with some states permitting regulated gambling and others enforcing strict prohibitions under outdated laws, further complicates uniform enforcement. The role of social media and influencer marketing has also been pivotal, with platforms promoting illegal gambling through sponsored posts and targeted ads, normalising gambling behavior and appealing to younger demographics. This unchecked growth poses serious economic and social risks, including lost tax revenue, consumer vulnerability to fraud, and links to addiction, financial distress, and organised crime. The CUTS project aims to comprehensively analyse this ecosystem, focusing on user access, payment mechanisms, and operational loopholes. By employing a mixed-method approach, the study seeks to identify regulatory gaps and provide actionable recommendations to policymakers, ultimately contributing to the development of effective measures to combat illegal online gambling in India.