Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called for a complete ban on real-money online gaming in the state. He raised the issue in the Assembly, pointing to a sharp rise in addiction, financial loss, suicides, and crimes linked to online gambling.
Fadnavis said he has written to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, stating that current laws are not strong enough to stop the damage caused by these platforms. He also asked the Centre to either regulate or ban these games entirely. He said the Centre has the power to act because most of the platforms operate from outside India.
“We are working with the Union government to fight this growing threat,” he said, according to sources. Fadnavis also spoke out against celebrity endorsements of gambling apps. He said these platforms promote a “new-age addiction” and are driving crime and mental health issues.
The state cyber police have stepped up action in response. Since 2023, they have handled nearly 97 betting cases, including several from Mumbai. They have also trained 3,000 officers, launched helplines (1945 and 1930), and opened 50 cyber labs. But officials admit that without central laws, it is hard to block foreign-based platforms.
Recent events have highlighted harm linked to real-money games. In one case from Navi Mumbai, a businessman lost Rs 2.74 crore over two years through online betting. This led to an FIR.
In another case from Dharashiv, a man reportedly sold his land after losing money in online rummy. He then poisoned his pregnant wife and 2-year-old child before ending his own life.
Meanwhile, in Pimpri-Chinchwad, a 16-year-old boy jumped to his death from the 14th floor after developing a gambling addiction. Online frauds related to gambling have also increased. Police in Mohali arrested eight people in an Rs 18 crore scam that used fake WhatsApp messages to trap victims.
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