A new report by CUTS (Consumer Unity & Trust Society) International has sounded the alarm over what it calls the “explosive growth” of illegal online gambling in India, with estimated annual user deposits closing in on a staggering $100 billion — nearly ₹8.8 lakh-crore.
The report paints a concerning picture of how offshore betting platforms are aggressively targeting Indian consumers, especially minors and young adults, through shadowy mirror sites, unregulated financial tools, and slick marketing tactics.
Between April 2024 and March 2025 alone, the top 15 illegal gambling platforms reportedly raked in over 5.4 billion visits via 40 different mirror websites. These sites are mushrooming rapidly, seemingly with little resistance, and are finding clever workarounds to reach Indian users despite regulatory roadblocks.
The report doesn’t just talk numbers — it unpacks how these operations are tapping into deep-rooted behavioural triggers. Immersive game environments, high-stakes wins, and psychological baiting are all part of the playbook. What’s more worrying is that many platforms skip even the most basic age checks, allowing underage users to gamble. In some bizarre cases, platforms have reportedly accepted cash-on-delivery payments — making it easy for minors to engage in gambling even without digital wallets or bank accounts.
According to CUTS, over 66% of all traffic to these illegal betting sites comes directly — either through private messaging apps or typing in URLs — suggesting that these operators have already built a brand recall and trust among their users. That’s a red flag in itself.
The financial footprint of this underground industry is equally messy. CUTS reveals how these platforms are misusing India's payment infrastructure — notably UPI — along with “mule” bank accounts and sophisticated apps that help shuffle money under the regulatory radar.
While the Ministry of Finance has reportedly cracked down on 357 sites and launched probes against around 700 offshore entities, the report argues that current efforts are mostly manual and “reactive”.
Pradeep Mehta, secretary general of CUTS, noted that these operators are not just gaming systems — they're exploiting advertising networks and payments channels to siphon off crores from unsuspecting Indian users.
