Mumbai – A new report released on Sunday has raised alarm over the rising influence of illegal online gambling platforms in India, particularly their impact on minors and young adults.
The report, published by public policy think tank CUTS International, warns that these illegal websites are luring vulnerable users with highly addictive, high-risk games, all while bypassing basic safeguards such as age and identity verification.
The scale of the problem is staggering. Between April 2024 and March 2025, the top 15 illegal gambling platforms — operating through 40 mirror websites — received more than 5.4 billion visits.
Popular platforms such as Parimatch, 1xBet, Stake, Fairplay, and BateryBet are among those receiving the most traffic.
Shockingly, in March 2025, Parimatch’s web traffic exceeded that of major platforms like Google India, Amazon, Wikipedia, and Hotstar — a testament to the growing reach of these gambling sites.
CUTS International estimates that users are depositing nearly $100 billion every year into these illegal betting platforms.
Many of these operations are based overseas and exploit loopholes in India’s payment systems and online advertising networks, putting both user safety and national security at risk.
Pradeep Mehta, Founder and Secretary General of CUTS International, stated, “These illegal gambling operators are misusing India’s digital infrastructure while escaping any kind of oversight or accountability. This isn’t just a consumer protection issue — it’s a serious national security threat.”
One of the most troubling findings is how easily minors are able to access and use these platforms. Most of them skip essential KYC (Know Your Customer) or age verification processes entirely. Some even accept cash-on-delivery payments, allowing teenagers with no access to digital payment methods to engage in gambling with little to no supervision.
The platforms also employ psychologically manipulative and high-stakes game designs that are especially harmful to impulsive and thrill-seeking youth.
The report sheds light on how these sites manage to attract such enormous traffic: roughly 66% of users access them directly via saved links, private messages, or bookmarks — methods that lend a false sense of credibility and safety.
Aggressive advertising campaigns, celebrity endorsements, large-scale billboards, and strong search engine visibility further expand their reach and appeal.
With inputs from IANS