Illegal betting, gambling exceed $100B/year, to peak during IPL
The article highlights the anticipated surge in illegal betting and gambling activities in India, particularly during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. According to a report by the Digital India Foundation, these illicit activities currently exceed $100 billion annually and are growing at a rate of 30% per year. Between October and December 2024, four major betting platforms—Parimatch, Stake, 1xBet, and Battery Bet—received approximately 1.6 billion visits. Social media platforms, notably Facebook and Telegram, played a significant role in directing traffic to these sites, accounting for 42.8 million visits during this period. Operators of illegal betting apps employ tactics such as search engine optimization (SEO) and collaborations with influencers to promote their platforms. Concerns have been raised about the potential use of these apps for money laundering and other illicit activities. The report also points out that Meta’s platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger—hosted over 1,000 ads related to betting and gambling. The foundation’s founder, Arvind Gupta, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach involving collaboration between the government and social media companies to address this issue effectively.
