Debt and distress: youth caught in cricket betting trap
Cricket has been a fan-favorite sport in India for decades. However, this tolerance has undergone a dramatic transformation as many people become interested in betting and gambling. From cricket fields to mobile screens, what was once limited to a few metropolitan cities and underground bookmakers has now grown into an international network operating through mobile apps, websites, cryptocurrencies and social media platforms.
The rise of online platforms has made gambling and betting easily accessible, with bookmakers and agents targeting people through mobile apps and digital channels. Police say unemployed youth, students and daily wage earners are among the most vulnerable groups targeted.
Today, smartphones and UPI payments have facilitated the penetration of betting apps into rural villages, tribal areas and semi-urban areas.
Visakhapatnam, a major developing district in the state, has witnessed many changing trends in betting operations over the years. Initially, gangs operated in luxury apartments to avoid suspicion. Later, when police began to identify such methods, operators turned to thatched-roof houses in slums and semi-rural areas. In some cases, betting gangs even operated by moving vehicles to evade surveillance. Operators were carrying laptops, multiple cell phones, SIM cards and portable Wi-Fi routers. Over time, high-tech portable communications equipment and advanced digital tools have made operations easier and harder to track.
Crackdowns and investigations
Despite changing crime trends, police in Visakhapatnam and neighboring areas have repeatedly broken up betting gangs in the last few years. In 2018, task force police arrested seven persons allegedly involved in IPL betting operations at Kirlampudi Layout. In 2022, a gang operating from rented houses in the city was arrested for organizing online IPL betting. In 2023, cybercrime police arrested 11 bookmakers and traced transactions worth ₹367 crore linked to betting apps.
However, the recent bust of two major online betting rackets by Visakhapatnam and Anantapur police has once again revealed how deeply the illegal betting ecosystem targets youth.
Investigations into the two cases revealed that today’s betting operations are no longer localized criminal activities. They function as organized cybercriminal organizations, with international processors, interstate operators, technical support teams, and sophisticated money laundering channels that make enforcement increasingly difficult. Police and cybercrime experts say modern betting companies use encrypted communication platforms, UPI transactions, cryptocurrency payments and multi-layered bank accounts to evade regulators and law enforcement. Illegal betting rings now resemble multinational corporate networks rather than traditional local gambling operations.
On May 5, 2026, Anantapur police busted an international cricket betting racket allegedly operating in the Philippines and seized ₹19.70 lakh in cash. Police also froze another Rs 18.20 lakh spread across 49 bank accounts in nine banks after the accused’s arrest.
According to Superintendent of Police P. Jagadeesh, officers received information about cricket betting and other illegal online gaming activities and conducted a raid in Kalyandurg; Here, 10 people were caught allegedly placing bets through an online application.
Police identified Shiva, who is currently on the run and reportedly living in the Philippines, as the prime accused. Investigators found that the syndicate recruited members from across India with the promise of regular income based on betting profits. The gang allegedly opened bank accounts in the names of around 70 residents, paying around ₹10,000 for each account, and also procured SIM cards using other people’s identities.
“SIM cards and passbooks were hidden inside packages containing cargo pants and sent to the Philippines through Delhi-based partners. The gang is alleged to have been operating illegal online gambling activities from Makati in Metro Manila through an app offering cricket betting and other banned games for the last three years,” the SP said.
Police stated that most of the betting transactions are carried out through digital payment platforms and the syndicate has members operating in many states.
In another major breakthrough, Visakhapatnam police arrested 27-year-old Karan Pakhrani alias Gabbar from Kolkata on May 13, 2026, for his alleged role in an inter-state online cricket betting and money laundering racket. Investigators estimate that the network may have facilitated illicit transactions worth ₹400 crore in just six months.
Superintendent of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi stated that the accused was nabbed from a hideout in Kolkata’s Regent Park area. Six employees who allegedly managed the financial and technical logistics of the operation were also detained.
The case arose from a complaint filed by an unemployed teenager who claimed he was persuaded to open bank accounts under the pretext of legal online gaming. Subsequent investigations revealed that the syndicate operated through 224 mule bank accounts from multiple States, which were used to layer and integrate funds generated through betting platforms.
According to the police, the blackmail operated through a gradual operational structure. It coordinates with call centers, sub-bookmakers and local operators in cities including Bengaluru. Illegal betting proceeds were routed through UPI and bank transfers, then quickly transferred to multiple accounts to avoid detection by financial regulators.
financial network
Authorities reveal that tracking down the masterminds behind such operations has become increasingly difficult due to the widespread use of mule accounts and interstate financial networks. Previously, enforcement agencies relied mainly on monitoring SIM cards and bank accounts. However, due to the opening of mule accounts in the names of poor, unemployed or uninformed people, investigations often result in account owners rather than reaching the main operators.
“Many people deliberately give up their bank accounts to earn easy money. However, in some cases, criminals target poor and uneducated people by paying small amounts,” Commissioner Bagchi said.
Cybercrime teams are increasingly relying on advanced digital forensics tools like KHOJ and Gandhivam to crack sophisticated betting networks. Police officials say these tools help investigators map digital footprints, determine device ownership, and link cell phone numbers, email addresses, and financial transactions to betting platforms.
“The masterminds are often outside the country. Local operators simply manage the accounts and recruit the punters. Money moves through dozens of accounts within minutes,” a senior cybercrime official said.
Police said betting companies heavily use messaging apps and social media influencers to attract new users. Many apps initially allow users to win small amounts to build confidence, then gradually push them into heavy betting and addiction.
severe distress
The excitement and allure of the game, especially IPL and other league matches, has become an easy attraction that attracts many people, including young people, who later find themselves in the midst of mounting debts, financial losses and psychological stress.
G. Ramesh (name changed), a 26-year-old engineering graduate from Visakhapatnam, said he first took up betting on IPL matches through a friend. “It all started with a ₹500 bet for entertainment purposes. Initially, I won a few times and thought I understood the game. Later, I started taking loans to compensate for my losses,” he said. Within eight months, he had accumulated debts of around Rs 3 lakh through personal loans and loans from friends. “I stopped sleeping properly. I thought one big win every day would pay off my debts. Instead I lost more. My family only found out after rescue workers started looking,” he said.
Another young man from Anakapallı district stated that betting applications manipulate users psychologically. “They show fake winning stories and bonuses. When you start losing, they make you believe that the next match will fix everything. You slowly become addicted,” he said.
Sreedhar, a private employee from Pendurthi, described how online betting drained his savings. “I used to spend my nights watching cricket score updates and betting ball by ball. I lost my salary, borrowed money from colleagues and eventually took out a gold mortgage on the house without telling my family,” he said.
An important concern that has emerged is the increasing psychological distress caused by addiction to betting applications among young people. Counselors and cybercrime authorities claim online betting addiction is fast turning into a silent but profound mental health crisis among young people.
Trauma and losses
Many cases in Andhra Pradesh have revealed that victims suffered severe emotional trauma after losing hundreds of thousands of rupees through betting apps. In an incident reported from Chittoor district last year, police alleged that a betting magnate had dragged many professionals and youths to huge financial losses. In the same incident, it was claimed that even a police officer tried to end his life due to his increasing debts.
Officials noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of online betting due to increased smartphone usage, affordable internet access and widespread adoption of digital payments. IPL seasons, international cricket tournaments and casino-style gaming apps have become major entry points for addiction among young people.
“Most of the victims are young people looking to make a quick buck. Many are unemployed or financially stressed. Betting apps take advantage of greed and desperation,” said a cybercrime official. The officer also stated that many young people believe that knowledge of cricket gives them an advantage.
“During investigations, many young people admitted that they took up betting because they believed cricket was well understood, including pitch conditions, boundary lengths, pitches, dew factor and batting analysis. However, such knowledge should not be misused for unauthorized activities that would ultimately financially destroy families,” he said.
Despite repeated police crackdowns and awareness campaigns, authorities acknowledge that enforcement alone may not be enough to stop the growing threat. They highlight the need for stronger digital regulations, better awareness campaigns, advisory support and community-level intervention. Parents and educators are also urged to closely monitor young people’s online behavior and financial activities.
