Over the past few years India is witnessing a surge in the popularity of fantasy gaming applications like Dream11, My11Circle, multiple rummy apps, and many other similar betting/sports gambling based digital platforms. These apps claim to be harmless entertainment options or skill-based gaming, one need only look to the little substance behind the claim, fantasy gaming has become an unbelievably addictive and, ultimately, damaging psychological ecosystem for the youth in the country. The draw of easy money, immediate reward and the thrill of competing with another person online is turning millions of young Indians targeted by the marketing strategies of the apps.
Psychological Risks:-
Millions of young Indians are addicted or becoming addicted to these platforms, losing money, time and even a large of chunk of their mental health for what is effectively only easy cash. Never before has the need to address this issue been more pressing and India's safest option to reduce the long term harm would be to ban these applications in India altogether designed psychological trap. They thrive on the human tendency for risk-taking and the hope of instant rewards. Youngsters, particularly those in their late teens and twenties, are drawn to these platforms with the belief that a small investment of money could multiply into huge winnings overnight. The advertising machinery behind these apps adds to the problem, with celebrity endorsements and appealing campaigns that make betting look glamorous, aspirational, and entirely risk-free. Cricket stars, Bollywood actors, and television personalities appear on screens every day, encouraging users to play fantasy games and win big. This creates a powerful illusion among impressionable minds that financial success and recognition are just a click away. In reality, however, the chances of winning significant amounts are extremely low, while the probability of losing money consistently is alarmingly high.
Financial Impact:-
The financial outcomes of these addictive games are catastrophic. Many young individuals, usually from middle-class families or the economically disadvantaged, are spending their limited finances into these platforms. What starts off as a small wager for entertainment grows into repeated betting and the player's pursuit of their losses in order to recover their expenditure, which can result in a similar cycle of investment and loss as gambling, with very similar negative outcomes. Numerous accounts of students losing their pocket money, young professionals relinquishing their salary, and unemployed young people borrowing money to stay in the game have been reported across the country. There have also been some shocking reports of gatherings of young adults where one individual's financial loss from online gaming led them into depression and, in rare and shocking cases, suicide. These outcomes emphasize the potentially destructive nature of these platforms that can derail not just individuals but families as a whole.
As concerning as financial disaster might be, the mental health considerations are also troubling. The design of these fantasy gaming is intentionally addictive. The notifications, rewards for little "wins," and the opportunities to play around the clock create ongoing loops that become very hard to turn away from. Young people will often find themselves thinking about the game even when they are not playing or are absent-minded in classes, jobs, or at home. The distraction can be crippling, with noticeable declines in productivity, academic performance, and social participation. Clinically, this begins to weigh heavily on mental health, as it contributes to stress, anxiety, and even clinically depressed states.
Another element of the issue is that these apps normalize betting and gambling as so-called skill games. The companies behind the platforms claim they are games of skill, not chance, and there is plenty of technical legal commentary on how they get away with it. Regardless, the overwhelming majority of players get a result that is more related to unpredictable causes beyond their control (like gambling) than in their control (like skill). When a betting or gambling site is available right at your fingertips and only a very small deposit is necessary to start playing, the potential for being addicted to it is very high. Unlike casinos or betting houses, which have limited physical slots, online gaming apps are in everyone's pocket 24/7, and it's infinitely more dangerous.
We cannot ignore the long-term social impact of this addiction. A generation of young people spending several hours per day on various platforms is not just wasting their potential, they are also threatening the future economic and social stability of this nation. Time spent working on career aspirations, learning new skills, and contributing to society is being replaced by marathon gaming sessions instead. The friendships, family relationships, and personal ambition that should be inspiring young people are eroded by their entry into the world of betting and fantasy gaming. Furthermore, when gambling behavior is normalized in the everyday lives of young people, it creates a culture of financial behavior that is speculative and reckless. This places young people in precarious situations, which then begin to create wider instability.
Policy Responses:-
Government and policymakers in India must recognize and treat this as a public health emergency, not as an individual choice. Countries across the world have taken concrete steps with their gambling and betting environments due to the well-documented harms that can accrue from globalization and commodification of gambling through a virtual medium. For instance, many European countries have implemented legislation that either limits or fully bans gambling advertisements and operators alike. India must take a similar route by enacting a law or regulation that bans fantasy gaming and online betting applications entirely, rather than allowing the unregulated exploitation of our youth's mind's through antiquated regulations. Suggesting that these bans will restrict future economic opportunities of the gaming industry do not hold as much weight when compared to the vast measure of social and health related harms that we'll have to ultimately face. A digital economy cannot be shaped, developed, and maintained by exploiting the vulnerabilities of our youth.
Education and awareness is also important when dealing with this issue. Schools, colleges, and everybody else needs to take responsibility for educating youth about the dangers of online gaming addiction as well as gambling. Parents need to ensure that they monitor their child's digital usage and provide healthier hobbies and activities that direct youthful energy and creativity in productive ways. Even the media should never sell these applications through advertisement campaigns filled with celebrities and influencers, but instead focus on narratives of addiction, financial loss, and mental health distress. Together, if we can put rules in place, generate awareness, and change culture, we can break the grip.
At its heart, the debate surrounding online fantasy gaming and betting is not merely a battle for entertainment or one's own freedom, but a fight to preserve the mental, financial, and societal well-being of millions of young Indians. Each day that these applications operate, more youth are ensnared in their false promise and insatiable structures. The betting and gambling false promise of easy money has left too many individuals suffering, and society is paying the price with broken families, lost productivity, and stressed mental health conditions. India cannot afford to be held hostage by a generation because of exploitative online gaming platforms. The plea for banning fantasy gaming and betting applications across India is not merely a demand for policy change; it is a plea to protect the future of India. Without intervention, we can only hope that our youth will invest their talent and time on life-affirming activities that contribute to the nation instead of wasting them in the hollow sphere of online gambling disguised as gaming.
(Vivek Koul)
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