Online betting rampant in Telangana, majority aged 18-25; low-income groups 79% report losing over Rs 50,000
HYDERABAD: A majority of people involved in online gambling and betting in Telangana are aged between 18 and 25, according to a survey conducted by the Public Response Against Helplessness and Action for Redressal (PRAHAR), an NGO.
The findings were revealed on Friday at an event titled 'Click:Bet:Repeat: Consumer Survey on the Forces Driving Online Betting and Gambling', held in Telangana, where online betting is banned.
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The survey, conducted over the past six weeks, covered 2,761 punters from across the state. It found that the majority of the respondents who placed bets came from low-income backgrounds, with nearly 38% of them earning a monthly income of less than Rs 15,000.
The study focussed on users accessing betting platforms through apps available on the Play Store, as well as through links available on Telegram or advertisements on social media.
'Telegram popular choice'
"Players are careful not to reveal their true identities while betting, which makes VPNs the most popular choice - used by 69% of respondents. Telegram links are the second popular choice at 20%," said president of PRAHAR Abhay Raj, during a press conference.Other findings highlighted that online betting continues unabated in the state despite the ban.
"For instance, 87% of the respondents said they engage in online gambling every day, and 89% of the respondents said betting sites are easily accessible.
Most of the respondents - 96% - knew that it was illegal too," the survey found.
The majority of them said they were drawn into the betting to make easy money. "The prospects of winning large sums from meagre investment attracts 86% of users, while 56% continue betting because they believe others are winning big," a member from the NGO said.
The respondents claimed that they had lost more than they invested. According to the data, 79% of punters reported losses exceeding Rs 50,000. He recommended that Telangana consider implementing a conditional ban, similar to the one followed in Tamil Nadu.
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