‘Debt trap for vulnerable’: Q&A with psychiatrist who recommended govt ban on real-money games | Technology News

“I think the ban on RMG apps is very important and necessary. Many people have lost money in online rummy and other real-money games, with Tamil Nadu alone reporting 20 to 30 suicides linked to such losses in the past four to five years,” Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, a psychiatrist who served on the Justice Chandru committee that advised the Tamil Nadu government to ban online gambling and games of chance in 2022, told The Indian Express.

The report drafted by the expert committee, led by retired Madras High Court Justice K Chandru, was the first of its kind as it laid out in detail how addiction to real-money games was devastating lives in Tamil Nadu, further noting that the relationship between gambling and suicide is well-established.

“I still remember, a young boy from a lower middle class family who was 18 or 19, he came to me and said he has become addicted to playing real-money games and that he has lost 10 lakhs which he had borrowed from a lot of people. He said that he was trying to pay off his debt by selling his kidney,” Dr Vijayakumar said.

The online money gaming ban was brought in through central legislation titled The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which prohibits “the offering, operation, facilitation, advertisement, promotion and participation in online money games.” The ban applies to all categories of games where users stake money for rewards with the risk of losses, including poker, rummy, ludo, fantasy sports, opinion trading, and more. It also covers offshore RMG platforms providing services in India.

“Gamblers have the highest suicide rates in the world because there is a neuro-biological change that happens. In that way, gambling addiction is very similar to alcohol or drug addiction. Once they become addicted, it is very difficult for people to wean away from them,” Dr Vijayakumar said.

More than 155 million Indians engaged with real money gaming sub-segments such as fantasy sports, rummy, poker and other transaction-based games in 2024, marking a 10 per cent increase over 2023, according to a report by FICCI and EY from March 2025. On an average, around 110 million people played these games daily last year.

Dr Vijaykumar said that even educated, working-class people were becoming addicted to real-money games. Recalling the case of a couple, both of whom were working in the IT sector, she said, “They had everything, a flat, a car, a double-income household. Still, they got addicted and had to sell everything.”

“Many housewives are lured by the promise of easy money, starting with sign-up bonuses. Soon, they find themselves pawning rings, then bangles, to keep playing. The problem is universal. These games were easily accessible 24×7 so the temptation never ended. Fortunately, we did not see cases of online gambling addiction among those over 60. Perhaps because they are not tech savvy enough,” she added.

‘Algorithm kills idea of skill’

Online money games often use manipulative design features, addictive algorithms, bots, and undisclosed agents to promote compulsive behaviour among users, leading them to financial ruin, according to the Act.

“Often the debate is whether it is a game of chance or game of skill. That has been the basis on which the court has passed jurisdiction. But there is really no skill involved in most real-money gaming platforms because the gaming companies control the algorithm. They can change the algorithm at any point to keep you addicted,” Dr Vijayakumar said.

When questioned if the ban would push addicted users toward underground gambling channels, she dismissed such fears and said, “We have to look at the general population. How many people are playing these games? How many of them are so tech savvy to go to the dark web? Only a small percentage of serious gamblers.”

However, Dr Vijaykumar also acknowledged that the suddenness of the ban will make it difficult for addicts to immediately switch to recreational gaming. “But the fact is they won’t lose money. They won’t get into a debt trap,” she added.

Stricter measures ahead?

In a first, the new Act provides a legal framework for regulating other forms of gaming in India.

While it prohibits all categories of online money games, the Act seeks to promote the development of esports as a legitimate competitive sport alongside the development of online social games that may charge subscription or access fees to play (provided they do not involve wagering).

When asked if the regulation opens the door to additional curbs such as time-limits and age restrictions for online skill-based games like battle royale titles, sports, and other popular genres, Dr Vijaykumar opined that it may not be an immediate priority but could be considered in the future.

“First, let this happen. Then we will have to come to how we can educate the people about restricting time spent on gaming as well as social media. There are signs of anxiety and depression in anyone who spends more than two hours gaming or on the internet. It is why many countries support such regulation,” she said.

China has strict regulations that limit under-18 users to just one hour of online gaming on specified days. Last year, Australia passed landmark legislation banning under-16 users in the country from accessing social media.

Meanwhile, industry leaders believe that while responsible gaming measures are important, esports is different from casual gaming as it is more structured, skill-based, and career-oriented for many players.

“Any regulations should focus on education, awareness, and safeguards rather than overly restrictive rules that could stifle growth. Global best practices such as parental controls and digital literacy are the right approach for India,” Akshat Rathee, the managing director of esports firm Nodwin Gaming, told The Indian Express.