admin
In April this year, six people died in Telangana, and one of them was murdered. Reason? Online betting and gambling. Due to his addiction to online gaming, after losing 15,000 rupees, a 16-year-old talented boy from Rajasthan was about to end his life. And I don’t need to tell you this story. You all know.
Every cricketer wants one thing more than the World Cup: to add you to their circle or make a dream team with you. Big Bollywood stars convince you just to make the team and enjoy it. But this fun becomes a punishment when you know the dark truth of fantasy cricket. Not 1 crore, not 2 crore for a prize pool of 3 crore, people get stuck in the circle of loans. They destroy their homes and sometimes their lives, too.
In today’s video, we will understand how fantasy sports are legal.
Chapter 1: Fantasy of Ravi
From Cricket Lover to Betting Addict: Ravi’s Shocking Journey
Let’s listen to Ravi’s story. I have changed the name for privacy. Ravi is a middle-class boy like you who has been interested in cricket since childhood. When he heard that he could earn 1 crore by investing 50 rupees, he thought, why not? What’s the problem? Fifty rupees is such a small amount. But if he wins one crore, he will become rich.
Sometimes, he would pay 100 rupees, and sometimes, he would pay 1000 rupees and slowly start increasing his amount. Then he left cricket and started betting on sports like basketball and football because IPL is only for 2 months. When a team is formed, it is proven right, and its player performs well, then it seems that the trophy is not won by that player but by us. Then, whether that trophy is of IPL or EPL, what difference does it make?
Fantasy Sports or Fantasy Trap? Real-Life Consequences
Ravi started betting on international apps using VPNs, where the rules are more relaxed than in India. Then he admitted that at his worst, he was spending 1.5 lakh rupees per day. Remember, it started with just 50 rupees, and now he was spending 1.5 lakh rupees daily. He maxed out his credit card. He even took bank loans to support his fantasy. In the end, he suffered a loss of 35 lakh rupees, which is 6 times his annual income.
This whole story is based on a true incident, and you must know Ravi, who ruined his life for the sake of fantasy.
The Silent Rise of Mental Health Cases in Gaming Addiction
The shocking truth of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Bengaluru In 2014, every week, 3-4 patients used to come for online gaming or gambling addiction. Now, every week, 20-22 patients come. Yes, patients, because this addiction becomes a mental illness. This is the truth. So, if all this happens, then how is all this legal?
The question must be coming to your mind, right? I know it, too. Let’s understand the logic behind it.
Chapter 2: Courts Vs. Fantasy Sports
What the Public Gambling Act 1867 Doesn’t Cover
You see, fantasy sports are not gambling, not us. The court has said it, and not once, but repeatedly. In 2017, a Chandigarh resident filed a case on a well-known fantasy gaming app. He lost 50,000 rupees. According to him, the activities offered on the website are completely dependent on chance. That’s why under Public Gambling Act 1867, this is punishable, not legal. Then, the company said that this was not a game of chance. This is a game of skill. You must analyze the player’s form, pitch reports, and stats.
Why Indian Courts Don’t Call It Gambling
The court also ruled in favor of the gaming company. Even our Supreme Court has called horse racing a game of mere skill, and its reference is given in every case and argued. If horse racing is legal and not gambling, how can fantasy sports be gambling? You and I, logically, whatever we feel. The courts have said that this is a game of skill. So, this is a game of skill.
Judiciary vs. Reality: What Legalization Has Missed
In 2019, the Bombay High Court And in 2020, the Rajasthan High Court also decided to favor fantasy sports. In 2021, the Supreme Court also said that fantasy sports, where you make a team, is a legal game. Because of this decision, in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the ban was imposed on these games, and that ban was also removed. What do you think? Are the courts right here? Tell me in the comments. But what difference does it make if it is banned?
At the beginning of the video, we gave the example of Telangana fantasy sports, which are banned here. Still, people use VPNs to access them. Another example is that alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat. Still, it does not mean that people do not drink in Gujarat. No problem is solved by banning. If people have an addiction, then the issue of addiction has to be addressed. The problem is not about banning or not. The problem is deeper, which we will understand below.
For now, you need to understand how big fantasy sports companies have become.
Chapter 3: Rise and Rise
How Fantasy Platforms Earn Even When You Lose
When you join a contest, you have to pay entry fees to play the game. Assume that you have given 50 rupees. Out of that, 50 rupees do not go to the prize pool. Depending on the type, some portions, like 15-20%, go straight to the company’s pocket. This is called a platform fee or commission. There are a lot of players, and very few people win. So, one winner is consistent in every game; that is the company. So, if most people lose after playing the game, why do they keep playing?
This is a real googly because they keep thinking they lost this time but will win next time. This is the similarity between a casino and a fantasy gaming app. Some people keep playing after winning, and more than them, people keep playing even after losing. That’s why these games come with a warning because the makers know how addictive this game can be.
The Illusion of “Next Time”: Psychological Hooks That Trap You
Here, I have a question: Do the makers understand that this game is addictive? Then how can they argue after going to court that there is a lot of difference between casinos and these? These people give a warning from their side because the legal team becomes happy once they provide a warning. Now, they can make them win in court with this warning.
Addiction Warnings Are Not Enough—Here’s Why
Studies say that fantasy apps trigger three addiction patterns like gambling:
#1 Near Misses:
If you almost win, then you keep trying again.
#2 Dopamine Rush:
When you get a small victory, then you feel happy. Neurons are triggered in your brain. You get a dopamine rush.
#3 Chasing Losses:
If you feel that you have lost money, Win that money again. Then, we will stop gaming, but this will not happen.
These three patterns make these fantasy gaming apps like casino gambling. This is problematic, and the worst thing is that no one is addressing it.
Chapter 4: The Dark Side
The Fine Line Between Brand Loyalty and Addiction
Every company wants its customers to become loyal customers and repeat customers. Then, whether it is a chocolate company, a cold drink company, or a wafer company. No one can eat just one. This is the marketing strategy. However, in addiction and brand loyalty, there is a very thin line. And I don’t think banning fantasy sports is the right solution.
Why Banning Isn’t the Cure: VPNs and Global Access
Those who want to play such games can play sports in other countries using a VPN. If these Indian companies are banned, China can launch its own game. There are a lot of people who take advantage of this, and by restricting it, the problem will not be reduced. The problem will increase. Right now, it is too late to ban these games.
We will have to ensure that these games do not go towards betting. This game should not become gambling. For example, there are some games where, after losing the toss, you can’t change your team. That is good because then there will be no ball-to-ball betting.
Why Teenagers Are the Most Vulnerable Target Group
If any executive is reading this blog, then I have some requests:
#1: Save Vulnerable Groups:
This means students. I know that in marketing, catching them young is the strategy, but we will have to think about ethics. We must ensure that children don’t waste their parents’ money until people don’t know financial literacy. They will have to stay away from these games.
#2: Incorporate Skills:
Involving skill and money doesn’t automatically make anything legal. There is a skill in chess, but if you invest money and get a payout, then it is betting, not a skill game.
#3: Restrictions on Betting Apps
We must ensure that streaming companies don’t add new features to those apps that promote gambling.
Should Fantasy Apps Be Allowed to Grow Without Guardrails?
For example, I can really see this happening in the future. In real-time, you will be asked how many runs you will get on this ball, and you can bet on every ball. That is also on the same app where you are streaming. Such things are already happening in the West, which will reduce the entry barrier. Millions of people who watch the match on mobile without switching the app can bet on the same app ball-to-ball. They will win 50-100 rupees for every ball or loss. This move will be dangerous because the cricket experience will be destroyed.
Final Verdict!
In the end, I want to say that it is our responsibility to keep our family safe. We should put restrictions on our family and understand that anyone can be addicted to anything. Some people are addicted to coffee or tea. These are common substances, but that doesn’t mean that they are not addictive.
This year, one complaint from IPL management is that they only run ads about addictive things like poker, rummy, or fantasy sports. These are the main sponsors who have zero utility in real life. I think we should at least ensure that sportspersons do not promote these apps.
Just like these companies show success stories, the government should take the initiative to broadcast the experiences of those who are addicted. What do you think? Do you agree with me? What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments.
