Indian authorities have reported that up to seven individuals have died in connection with online betting within just a month.
This alarming statistic follows the announcement by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy regarding the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) aimed at tackling digital gambling, which remains banned in the state of Telangana, The Times of India reported.
Six of the deceased reportedly died by suicide, while one was murdered by a fellow betting addict.
The most recent case involved a student, who took his own life after losing over ₹2.65 lakh ($3,110). His brother-in-law noted that the deceased began betting during the IPL season, primarily using apps like Slice, Lucky Kismat, and JDB Gaming.
Another victim, a 25-year-old, ended his life after failing to recover investments intended for his sister’s wedding.
In a separate incident, a 22-year-old also died by suicide following significant gambling losses.
Many of the deceased resorted to taking loans from friends or lending apps, often pledging personal belongings to continue betting, which has compounded their financial woes.
Despite a state ban on online betting, users have been circumventing restrictions by utilizing VPNs to access these platforms.
An SIT officer noted that, while registered Indian betting companies have geo-fenced their services to block access from Telangana, many individuals are still able to place bets through unregulated channels, including those operated by foreign entities.
Currently, 70 online betting-related cases are under investigation, with several high-profile cases involving celebrities.
