Online Gambling: The Silent Epidemic Destroying Kashmiri Families
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 10 July 2025
A New Menace Gripping the Valley
Once known for its scenic beauty and resilient people, Kashmir is now battling a digital monster—online gambling. Fuelled by flashy apps, false hope, and legal loopholes, this quiet crisis is tearing families apart, drowning youth in debt, and igniting a mental health emergency.
Despite laws prohibiting gambling in the region, platforms like Aviator, BC Game, 1xBet, and Lotus365 operate freely, exploiting grey zones in digital regulations. From Srinagar to Sopore, from Anantnag to Kupwara, the addiction is spreading fast—faster than any countermeasures in place.
The Illusion of Easy Money
Small Wins, Big Losses
The story is heartbreakingly familiar:
“I won Rs 800 on my first try. The second time, I lost Rs 20,000. I thought I could recover it. Then I lost Rs 2 lakhs in 10 days.” — Imtiyaz, 23, Pulwama
These platforms often allow users to win initially, using algorithms that mimic luck. This tricks users into believing they can “outsmart the system.” Instead, they fall into a vicious cycle of risk, loss, and desperation.
One young man in Baramulla lost Rs 42 lakhs, forcing his family to sell their home. Another, from Sopore, borrowed from friends and family to cover mounting debts, only to disappear, unable to face the humiliation.
Mental Health Crisis in the Making
Psychologists across Kashmir are sounding the alarm:
- Gambling addiction is spreading faster than drug addiction
- Common symptoms include anxiety, depression, guilt, isolation, and suicidal thoughts
- Young people between 18-30 years are the most vulnerable
Family Fallout
- Strained relationships as addicts lie or steal to fund their habits
- Emotional breakdowns among parents, siblings, and spouses
- Community stigma prevents families from seeking help
“We lost our savings and our peace. My son doesn’t talk to anyone anymore. He just stares at his phone.” — Parveena, a mother from Kulgam
Digital Danger: Gambling in Every Pocket
Unlike traditional gambling, online betting requires no license, no location, and no limits.
Key Enablers:
- Cheap smartphones
- Affordable internet (Jio, Airtel)
- No physical verification
- 24×7 accessibility
Even remote villages like Lolab, Handwara, and Shopian are reporting gambling addiction among youth. The trend is growing, unchecked and undetected.
Legal Loopholes: An Open Field for Exploitation
Despite gambling being banned under the J&K Public Gambling Act, 1977, offshore platforms continue to thrive. How?
Exploitative Tactics:
- Operating through foreign servers, beyond Indian jurisdiction
- Using cryptocurrency or e-wallets to bypass banks
- Offering referral rewards, pulling more users into the web
Regulatory Vacuum:
- No Kashmir-specific digital regulation
- No coordination between telecom, financial, and enforcement agencies
- Legal ambiguity on “skill-based” vs. “chance-based” gaming
“We have laws on paper. But in the digital world, they’re just that—paper.” — Advocate Zubair, High Court of J&K and Ladakh
A Ground Report: Victims Speak
Shahid, 19, Anantnag
“I thought I could win Rs 50,000 for my sister’s wedding. I ended up losing Rs 3 lakhs in three weeks. Now I avoid my family.”
Rafiqa, 44, Srinagar
“My son is addicted. We found out when he took Rs 10,000 from my savings account without telling me. He says he’s trying to recover his losses.”
Irfan, 27, Kupwara
“I joined a Telegram group that shared tips. They were fake. I lost everything.”
Institutional Inaction: Where Is the System?
Despite repeated warnings from civil society and media, no comprehensive strategy exists to tackle this epidemic.
Challenges:
- No dedicated helpline for gambling addiction
- No public awareness campaigns
- No school/college-level digital literacy programs
- No coordination between police, telecom providers, and social media platforms
“We are treating it like a moral failure instead of a public health emergency.” — Dr. Sameer Kaul, Psychiatrist, GMC Srinagar
The Way Forward: Solutions Before It’s Too Late
01. Ban Offshore Gambling Apps
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- Collaborate with Google/Apple to remove apps
- Direct ISPs to block known platforms
02. Community-Based Counseling
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- Establish centers in each district
- Train teachers and ASHA workers to detect symptoms early
03. Policy-Level Action
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- New laws for digital gambling
- Crypto regulation specific to online gaming
- Annual reports on digital addiction
04. Awareness & Prevention
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- School campaigns: “Don’t Bet Your Future”
- TV/Radio ads with real stories
- Parents’ workshops on digital monitoring
Bottom-Line: A Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
The menace of online gambling is more than a moral failing—it is a structural failure. When promises of jobs, education, and support remain unmet, false hope fills the vacuum. And in Kashmir, that false hope is now wrapped in bright app icons, spinning roulette wheels, and disappearing bank balances.
It’s time for parents, educators, politicians, and policymakers to unite—not just to ban apps, but to heal minds, restore trust, and offer real opportunities. Before another youth logs in, and loses everything.
