In recent years, India has witnessed a massive surge in online gaming platforms, with apps offering real-money games such as poker, rummy, fantasy sports, and other forms of gambling. While this industry has grown exponentially, fueled by increased smartphone penetration and affordable internet access, it has also raised serious ethical, legal, and social concerns.
A major part of this rise can be attributed to celebrities endorsing these platforms without paying heed to the potential harm they cause. In a country where unemployment and joblessness, especially among the youth, are alarmingly high, many are desperately seeking quick ways to earn money. When these individuals are drawn in by their favourite celebrities endorsing gambling apps, they often follow blindly, assuming that if their idols support it, it must be right. Initially, when someone invests a small amount into these apps, they may not immediately fall victim to the trap.
However, with regular play, they slowly become addicted, gradually losing their hard-earned money bit by bit. Over time, the situation deteriorates further, leading them to borrow money to continue gambling. When friends or family refuse to lend, some resort to unlawful activities such as theft or robbery in desperation to fund their addiction. This cycle not only destroys individuals financially but also fosters a dangerous environment, where the desperation to gamble transforms people into criminals. The end result is a society increasingly burdened by crime, driven by the lure of easy money promoted irresponsibly by celebrities. This article examines the dangers of online gaming apps, the responsibility of celebrity endorsements, and the relevant legal framework surrounding the issue in India.
The Rise of Online Gaming in India
Online gaming platforms, especially those involving real-money betting, have become a popular pastime for millions of Indians. Fantasy sports, poker, rummy, and other card-based games, often with cash rewards, are widely available through apps such as Dream11, My 11 circle, Howzatt, MPL, PokerBaazi, and more. These platforms promise easy winnings but often lead to significant financial losses and gambling addiction.
The rise of online gambling applications in India can be attributed to several factors. A significant portion of the population, particularly the youth, is highly active on social media platforms. Many influencers, including celebrities, are promoting these apps, making them seem appealing and accessible. These platforms frequently highlight stories of individuals who have won large sums, showcasing them as examples of overnight success stories, like becoming a “crorepati.” This creates a false sense of hope, especially among those with limited financial literacy and reasoning skills.
However, the reality is starkly different. The chance of becoming a crorepati through these apps is exceedingly rare. For instance, among 1 crore participants, only one might win such a jackpot, equating to a mere 0.1% chance. This minuscule probability is overshadowed by the allure of instant wealth, driving many to gamble without fully understanding the slim odds. Ultimately, these platforms capitalize on the aspirations of people seeking a quick escape from financial hardship, without highlighting the much greater likelihood of financial losses. The consequences of such unchecked indulgence have been devastating for many users, leading to broken families, financial ruin, and in some extreme cases, suicides.
The Role of Celebrities in Promoting Online Gaming
Celebrities have played a pivotal role in popularizing these online gaming platforms. Cricket stars, Bollywood actors, and other influencers are frequently seen in advertisements, endorsing gaming apps with glamorous presentations, often giving the impression that participating in these games is not only fun but a quick way to earn money.
For instance, famous cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, M.S. Dhoni, Irfan Pathan and actors like Ranveer Singh and Tamannaah Bhatia have appeared in campaigns promoting fantasy sports apps and real-money gaming platforms. Their massive fan base, particularly among the youth, adds significant credibility to these endorsements. Unfortunately, their participation often lacks accountability or awareness about the long-term consequences of gambling addiction and its societal impact.
Celebrities, particularly those with significant influence, should be held accountable for the negative consequences faced by the youth after engaging with gambling apps. Many of these celebrities, especially cricketers with massive fan bases, seem to prioritize their own financial gains by endorsing such platforms, without considering the harmful effects their endorsements have on young, impressionable minds. The primary reason they promote these gambling platforms is that the companies behind them pay well for these advertisements.
It is especially disappointing when cricketers, who are seen as national icons, engage in such practices. Their fans support them not only because of their skill in cricket but also because they believe these players represent the country’s pride and spirit. However, simply excelling in cricket doesn’t fully reflect patriotism. True patriotism also requires caring for one’s fellow citizens. If these celebrities genuinely love their country, they should show that love by protecting the youth rather than exploiting their vulnerabilities.
The advertisements they promote are often misleading, with claims like, “Make your team for just Rs 1 and win crores.” For a young person, risking a small amount may seem harmless at first, but these minor risks often snowball into addiction. Over time, this leads to significant financial losses, as individuals continue to gamble, hoping to recover their money, only to sink deeper into debt. The impact of such irresponsible promotion by celebrities is far-reaching, damaging not only individuals but also society as a whole.
Ethical Concerns
The celebrity endorsements of such platforms raise several ethical questions. By associating their public image with gaming apps, these celebrities legitimize platforms that may exploit users’ psychological weaknesses, such as addiction and the hope of easy money. These platforms often target vulnerable demographics, particularly young people, who may be unable to distinguish between skill-based games and games of chance. The media, along with online gambling and betting applications, have attempted to portray these platforms as skill-based games, which is a fundamentally flawed and misleading narrative. While some skill may be involved in choosing players or teams, claiming that these apps are solely skill-based is unacceptable, especially in a sport like cricket, which is inherently uncertain and unpredictable.
Cricket, by its nature, is a sport where outcomes can shift dramatically until the very last moment. There are countless instances where the most favoured team has lost, or an underdog has risen to an unexpected victory. The uncertainty makes it virtually impossible to predict, with any certainty, which team will win or which players will perform well on any given day.
For example, it’s not uncommon for a bowler to unexpectedly score more runs than a batsman or for a batsman to take critical wickets, defying typical expectations of player roles. Given this unpredictability, it’s highly questionable to label fantasy gaming apps as skill-based when such factors beyond control play a significant role in determining outcomes. Unlike chess or poker, where skill dominates, cricket’s many variables mean that luck and chance often play a greater role, making it misleading for these platforms to claim otherwise.
This false portrayal encourages users to believe that with the right strategies, they can consistently win, which draws them deeper into the betting cycle. However, due to the highly volatile nature of cricket, these users often suffer financial losses instead. Therefore, categorizing these apps as “skill-based” games is nothing more than a clever marketing tactic that overlooks the true risks involved.
Many of these apps fail to clearly inform users about the financial risks, placing disclaimers in small, hard-to-notice fonts at the bottom of the page. This lack of transparency misleads users, particularly younger individuals, into thinking they’re engaging in harmless or skill-based gaming. By downplaying the risks and highlighting potential rewards, these platforms trap users in a cycle of financial loss, with critical warnings often going unnoticed. The use of celebrities as brand ambassadors overshadows the potential dangers of online gambling, leading to a false sense of security about the app’s legitimacy and the likelihood of success. As role models, celebrities should be held to a higher ethical standard, especially when promoting products that may harm their audience.
How it’s different from any Skill based game
Betting apps like Dream11, My11Circle, and Hozzat claim to be skill-based because users create fantasy teams based on players’ expected performances, requiring knowledge of the sport. However, in reality, cricket is highly unpredictable, and despite reasonable assumptions about player form and pitch conditions, outcomes often differ drastically. For example, even when top batsmen seem like the best choices for a match, they may fail unexpectedly, leading to significant losses for users who rely on their predictions. This unpredictability introduces a strong element of luck, making these platforms more similar to gambling than true skill-based games.
Legal Landscape Governing Online Gaming in India
The legal status of online gaming in India is complex, as gambling falls under the purview of individual states. Some states, such as Sikkim and Nagaland, have regulated online gaming, while others, such as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, have imposed complete bans. Fantasy sports platforms like Dream11 argue that their games are skill-based, which exempts them from the gambling prohibition under The Public Gambling Act, 1867. This Act prohibits gambling in public places but does not provide clear guidelines for online platforms. The Public Gambling Act requires immediate amendment, as it currently addresses gambling in physical public spaces but remains silent on online gambling and betting. With the rapid rise of digital platforms offering real-money games, this legal gap leaves a significant portion of the gambling industry unregulated. Updating the Act to explicitly cover online gambling is essential to ensure that the law keeps pace with evolving technology and to protect individuals from the risks associated with unregulated online betting platforms.
Additionally, Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 makes it illegal to transmit or publish any obscene content online. While this is not directly applicable to gaming apps, the law could potentially apply to platforms that encourage gambling and exploit users financially. Furthermore, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, seeks to protect consumers from misleading advertisements, and celebrities endorsing gaming apps may be held liable if their endorsements mislead the public. Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, makes it mandatory for endorsers to ensure that their claims are genuine and not misleading.
Celebrity Responsibility Under Advertising Laws
With the introduction of the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), celebrities are now more accountable for the products and services they promote. These guidelines mandate that all celebrity endorsements must adhere to certain ethical standards, and endorsers are required to have due diligence before promoting any product or service.
The guidelines emphasize that celebrities must substantiate the claims they make about a product, which would include ensuring that online gaming apps do not mislead consumers into gambling addiction or financial ruin. If a celebrity is found to be endorsing a product or service that causes harm to consumers, they could face penalties under the Consumer Protection Act.
Social Impact of Online Gaming
The addictive nature of online gaming apps, especially those involving real money, has already led to severe consequences for individuals and families. There have been numerous reports of people losing substantial amounts of money, falling into debt, and even taking their own lives due to gambling addiction. Vulnerable individuals, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, are often lured into spending more than they can afford, in the hope of winning big, only to end up in financial distress.
In October 2021, the Madras High Court observed that online gaming and gambling have serious social and economic implications, noting that the government has a duty to protect its citizens from the dangers of gambling addiction. The court also stated that the promotion of online gambling apps by celebrities sends a dangerous message, normalizing the activity as a harmless form of entertainment.
Need for Stronger Regulation and Awareness
While the gaming industry has made efforts to regulate itself through responsible gaming practices, such as setting limits on the amount of money users can wager, these measures are often inadequate. There is an urgent need for a stronger regulatory framework that can effectively control the activities of online gaming platforms.
The government should take decisive action by banning all betting apps and restricting celebrities from endorsing them. These apps lure individuals, especially the youth, into financial distress by promoting the illusion of easy wealth, leading to significant losses and addiction. Celebrities, who have a strong influence over their fans, play a role in this exploitation by promoting such platforms without concern for the potential harm. A firm ban would prevent individuals from falling into these traps and protect their time and money from being wasted on gambling, which often leads to financial ruin. Implementing strict regulations would also help prevent vulnerable groups from becoming prey to these deceptive platforms.
At the same time, public awareness about the risks associated with online gaming must be increased. Celebrities and influencers should be more mindful of the products they endorse and refrain from promoting platforms that could cause harm to their audience.
Conclusion
The online gaming industry in India has grown rapidly, but this growth has come with significant societal costs. The involvement of celebrities in promoting online gaming platforms without considering the ethical and social consequences is a matter of concern. While some platforms may argue that their games are skill-based, the addictive nature of these apps cannot be overlooked. It is imperative that the government, regulatory bodies, and celebrities take more responsibility for the potential harm these platforms pose to the public.
Legal measures, such as stricter regulations under the Consumer Protection Act and the Information Technology Act, must be enforced to ensure that the gaming industry does not exploit vulnerable individuals. Celebrities, as influencers with vast reach, must carefully consider the consequences of their endorsements and avoid promoting services that could lead to financial distress and gambling addiction.
Author: This article is written by Osama Ahmad Abbasi, Advocate, High Court, Lucknow Bench.
