As IPL Frenzy Peaks, Illegal Betting Sites Parimatch, Fairplay, Others Target Fans With Discounts

Amid the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), illegal sports betting platforms like Parimatch, Betway, 1XBet, Betfair, Crickex, Fairplay and Lotus365 have intensified their operations in India.

These websites are offering discounts and hosting ‘treasure hunts’ for match tickets to attract cricket enthusiasts, ET reported.

The E-Gaming Federation of India (EGF), representing e-sports and fantasy gaming firms such as Games24x7 and Head Digital, has urged the government to enforce a complete ban on “these deceitful fly-by-night operators that have been blatantly flouting regulations,” as per a letter sent by the federation to the information and broadcasting ministry, electronics and information technology ministry, and other government agencies last week.

These illegal betting platforms have crafted their promotions in a manner that gives an illusory sense of legitimacy to unsuspecting users, EGF added in its letter.

As per a recent report by Think Change Forum (TCF), an independent think tank, the offshore sports betting market receives an estimated INR 8,20,000 Cr ($100 Bn) per annum in deposits from India and has been clocking growth of 20% per annum in the last three years post the pandemic, while IPL was major driver.

It was reported last year that the government was exploring stringent regulations to combat the proliferation of offshore platforms offering illegal gambling and betting services in India, including tighter rules for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transfers.

Last year, India banned 138 offshore betting platforms. In an order issued on February 5, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ban and block 232 apps that either originate or have links to China. Among these were 138 betting and 94 online lending apps.

Betting and gambling are strictly prohibited under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and are considered illegal in the majority of regions across the country.

Recently, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) also issued an advisory warning celebrities and influencers to refrain from promoting such illegal activities.

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