Illegal Betting Sites in India: CUTS International Findings
Why in the news
A CUTS International study described India as a large market for unlicensed online betting, with heavy traffic and money flows and no regulatory framework.
Key facts
- 5.4 billion visits in FY25 went to the top 15 illegal platforms, such as 1xBet, Parimatch, Stake, Fairplay and BateryBet.
- Estimated deposits: $100 billion a year.
- Direct traffic: 66%, showing strong brand recall.
- March 2025: Parimatch traffic beat amazon.in, wikipedia.org, google.co.in, flipkart.com and linkedin.com.
Gaps and harms
| Area | Finding |
|---|---|
| Regulation | No national regulator; no KYC, age checks, payment blocking or ad and domain tracking |
| Minors | Easy access; some operators accept cash-on-delivery (Parimatch) |
| Security | Crores of rupees flow abroad |
| Addiction | Manipulative design hits youth and impulsive users |
Recommendations
- Create a central gambling regulator.
- Ban ads for illegal betting sites; restrict payment gateways.
- Strengthen age and KYC checks; run awareness drives.
Exam angle
- Report author: CUTS International.
- Figures: 5.4 billion visits, $100 billion deposits.