Easy access to gambling portals and lack of adequate legal framework are luring people into a cycle of debt & despair. Psychiatrists say early intervention & support are crucial to break the cycle.
It’s that time of the year when gambling, a cultural constant dating back to epic dice duels, reaches fever pitch. Add social media and financial platforms to the pursuit and you get a heady concoction that draws players into a delusional hope of striking it rich as they risk their fortunes on games of chance.An inadequate legal framework does not help either, leading many down the path of addiction and financial ruin.
“Every fifth person I meet is registered on a gambling app. It’s a serious problem. Before Covid, we used to receive 15-20 cases of compulsive gambling on average a month. They have gone up to 150 in the past one-and-ahalf years,” said Yogesh Patel, a psychiatrist from Vadodara.
Manav Gohil (name changed), an Ahmedabadbased tour operator, frequently visits online gambling sites. “I play casino games and games like Gems, Golden Empire, Super Ace and Wild Frames. They have earned me anywhere between Rs 900 and Rs 7,000 in a day. They are addictive because once you win small amounts, you want to keep playing. I also visit Jeetwin and 1xbet, which sometimes get blocked online, but we find ways around accessing them.” His friend, Nishant Kathritiya (name changed), who owns a packaging business in Vatva, enjoys arcade games on Dafabet and also bets on Sattamatkawin portal. “I have already lost Rs 25,000 this month,” he says.
Dr Rajendra Anand, a specialist at the Kanoria Rehabilitation Centre in Bhat, said that those suffering from compulsive gambling disorder often seek treatment for anxiety and sleep disorders. They are frequently in a condition as severe as those struggling with substance abuse issues. Psychiatrists in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar report a significant increase in individuals seeking help for problem gambling, from 5-10 per year before the pandemic to nearly 30 currently.
“Online gambling is especially popular among youngsters, who are often introduced to the habit due to peer pressure,” says Dr Anand. The treatment includes anti-psychotic and anti-obsessive drugs to help individuals deal with their distorted reality and aggression. Ahmedabad-based psychiatrist, Dr Ramashankar Yadav, says online gambling compulsion is more prevalent among individuals aged 20-30, while on-site gambling is more common among those in the 25-50 age group.
Although online gambling cases remain relatively steady year-round, on-site gambling often surges during festivals.
Shravaniyo Jugar is particularly popular in Saurashtra during the month of Shravan. Many lose money in it and continue gambling to recoup their losses, resulting in substantial debt by Navratri and Diwali.
In Jamnagar district, six out of eight complaints registered last week against 26 people, including 10 women, were under the Public Gambling Act. “Those who get arrested for gambling during Janmashtami are not habitual gamblers. They indulge in it as part of the festivities, but it is illegal,” said Manoharsinh Jadeja, SP, Gir Somnath.
Rules and regulations
In 2009, Gujarat high court held that playing rummy does not amount to gambling because it is a game of skill and not a game of chance alone. In 2017, the court termed poker a game of chance, leading to a ban on it across the state. An appeal by the Indian Poker Association (IPA) is pending before a division bench since.
In 2020, a PIL sought the HC’s intervention to stop online gambling, particularly rummy, which was earlier held by HC as a game of skill. In response, a division bench said state govt should act against online games involving gambling in accordance with the law. The court called for a need to amend the Gambling Act of 1887 to include online gambling within its ambit.
— Inputs from Ashish Chauhan, Tushar Tere, Nimesh Khakhariya, Saeed Khan & Vishal Patadiya