ASCI Flags Surge in Foreign Betting Ads; 318 Influencers Under Watch

Estimates put the amount of illegal gambling in India at over $100 billion per annum. It is growing at a rate of 30% annually. At a 28% GST rate, this means a potential tax loss of over Rs 2.3 lakh crore per annum to the government. According to the RBI, an amount of Rs 2,500 crore is being sent through bogus accounts every month.

According to the Advertising Standards Council of India's 2024-25 report, 3,081 cases of foreign betting and gambling advertisements were reported, which shows a 24% increase compared to the previous year. 318 influencers who actively promote the platforms were identified.

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence has identified 658 offshore entities as unregistered or non-compliant entities. The government had told the Rajya Sabha some time ago that no foreign gambling company has been registered so far under the new GST law. According to a survey by Prahar, 87% of the 2,761 people in Hyderabad admitted that they play on foreign betting/casino platforms daily. 89% said it is quite easy for them to access them using VPNs, Telegram links, APKs or agents. The ban has curbed domestic skill gaming, but has given more momentum to foreign betting operators.