Hyderabad: The Confederation of Residents Welfare Associations (CoRWA) welcomes the Central Government's move to regulate online games and curb betting activities. CoRWA fully supports this bill and urges both State and Central Governments to implement it strictly across all states, said B. T. Srinivasan, Secretary General, CoRWA.

Even though gambling is banned in many states, this menace continues to thrive underground. The value of the illegal gambling market in India is estimated to be around Rs 8.5 lakh crore. Many people addicted to online games and gambling are drowning in debt, and countless others, unable to find a way out, are resorting to suicide. Against this backdrop, the Central Government brought this bill in Parliament yesterday with the objective of regulating online games and stopping betting activities. The demon of betting—which is destroying families—must be crushed once and for all.  

Sharing the example of Telangana state, B. T. Srinivasan, Secretary General, CoRWA said, “In Telangana alone, in just the past two years, more than 30 people have taken their own lives due to online betting apps. Reports also indicate that women aged 18–25 are particularly vulnerable to falling prey to these betting platforms. Calls to suicide prevention helplines in Hyderabad from such victims have risen by 60% in the last six months. Cases of people losing everything in betting peak especially during the IPL season."

Dangers of easy money and addictive Apps

According to CoRWA, the greed of making money without hard work is what drives people towards online gambling. Betting apps exploit this weakness and especially cast their net on the youth. Many fintech companies are making it extremely easy to get loans, and with this borrowed money, many are falling deeper into betting traps. Victims of such habits are sinking financially—some even ending their lives, while others, addicted to gambling, are turning to theft and attacking their own family members.

Young people addicted to digital games are also suffering from severe psychological issues. Those glued to their screens all day are facing rising health problems. CoRWA stated that a large part of the money from online gambling goes to terrorists and anti-national groups. This poses a serious threat to our country’s security.

Along with targeting platform operators, those who promote them for money—like sportspersons, film stars, or social media influencers—must also face penalties. No public figure should become a promoter of such dangerous activities. Authorities must keep constant vigilance to prevent such endorsements, demands CoRWA.