Whether you view online games as skill games or gambling, the fact remains that online games are highly addictive. There are several examples of online gaming addicts risking their lives for different games. The situation is even worse when people commit suicide because of online games or financial ruin.
Insidious Trap
The mechanics of most online gaming platforms, especially fantasy league platforms, deserve attention as they reveal many of the insidious tactics employed by these platforms.
Their ads often feature 'real' customers who originally came from very humble backgrounds and grew up due to the profits they made from their platform. Or, a variation of this ad could represent someone from a rural area who comes from a very middle-class background and has "earned" a luxury car.
The message is clear - if that person can win that much, so can you. What is the key to all this? All of the sobs that appear during these campaigns are scripted.
The hugely popular Fantasy League platform ran a similar campaign, featuring Cricket's Whos Whos. Advertising campaigns were extensive during the IPL and other shows on TV and YouTube.
Additionally, this fantasy league app got a number of YouTube influencers to promote the app with his 15-30 second spots in their videos. On average, these YouTubers have around 1 million subscribers and average around 2,000 views per video, which isn't much.
What's shocking is that in this campaign, a YouTuber with an average of around 2-2.5 million views per video was paid 6-7 figures for the integration. Tens of millions of dollars were paid to cricketers and actors who promoted the app. To evade potential customers and eventually get them to sign up, these platforms run another series of lucrative campaigns. New players get a small amount of in-game currency for winning as they play against bots.
Or trick the user into spending Rupees in-game to win her iPhone or other prizes. The moment users spent their first rupees on such apps, developers broke the main barrier and extorted more money.
The fact that these games are designed to be highly addictive is a whole other story.Rush of winnings that players give first when paired with bots in some of these betting games From there, the UI and animations are created to amplify wins and losses in playdowns, letting users lose their minds from perspective and reality. These gaming apps also create a sense of urgency and false performance. For this reason, players are set to play for hours without breaks, pay high fees, and participate in multiple games and tournaments, all with their own real money.
Frequent occurrence of fraud and fraud cases
One of the main problems with the lack of regulation of online gambling in India is the possibility of fraud. With no clear laws and regulations governing the industry, players risk being duped by unscrupulous individuals and companies.
For example, players may be promised rewards or prizes that never materialize, or be asked to pay up front for the opportunity to participate in games or tournaments.
Need for regulation
Gambling needs regulation. Especially if the player is addicted and is at serious financial risk. The lack of regulation related to the online gambling industry, especially the Indian market itself, has serious consequences for individuals and families. A good set of regulations can go a long way in protecting people from the dark side of online gaming.
More importantly, it will also benefit the industry. Indian states and UTs where gambling is not only legal but also regulated i.e. Goa, Sikkim and Daman show that the industry really thrives when it is not only taxed but also regulated . Additionally, regulation of online gambling will help the industry grow exponentially and ease the fears of potential investors.
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