‘The family paid the price’: India’s deadly online gambling crisis
Summary
A 22-year-old man from Yedapally village in Telangana state spent 1.8 million rupees on online betting and borrowed from at least 12 people before his parents and he died by suicide on October 3, 2024. The family sold a plot of land to repay debts but could not cover the full amount, forcing them to work for a caterer. Police and relatives say the situation spiralled out of control after relatives began demanding repayment. The tragedy reflects a broader crisis in India, where the online gaming sector generated $3.7bn in 2024 and 86 percent of its revenue came from money-based gaming. A 2025 law banned all online gaming involving money, but illegal platforms continue to operate through phone banking and unauthorised accounts.
Key points
- Harish from Yedapally village spent 1.8 million rupees on online betting and borrowed from at least 12 people.
- His parents, Ranganaveni Suresh and Hemalatha, sold a plot of land and worked for a caterer to repay debts.
- Harish and his parents died by suicide on October 3, 2024, after debts remained unpaid.
- Illegal online betting platforms received more than 5.4 billion visits in India during the 2024-25 financial year.
- The gambling app Mahadev Online is estimated to have generated 430 billion rupees over seven years.
Timeline
Harish began betting online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harish and his parents died by suicide at their home.
India’s Parliament passed a law banning all online gaming involving money.
The 15 largest unauthorised online betting platforms received more than 5.4 billion visits.
“We did not know how much money he had borrowed until people started coming to our house asking for their money back. By then, the situation was already out of control.”
Background
India had about 591 million gamers in 2024, with money-based gaming accounting for 86 percent of industry revenue.
Why it matters
The crisis has led to multiple suicides and family breakdowns, highlighting the dangers of unregulated online betting.
What's next
Despite a 2025 ban, illegal platforms continue to operate through phone banking and unauthorised accounts.