For many, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a spectacle for making money. However, the desire to earn this golden fever is pushing the growing number of young Indians into addiction. Experts on data and mental health suggest that planting on IPL appears as a serious dependence between Indian youth.
Google search trends indicate a sharp increase in interest in terms such as “IPL addiction” and “online betting” during each IPL season. Wider searching, such as “gambling addiction”, since 2015 has been constantly growing and reflecting the rise of sports online betting applications.
According to Google Trends, search for queries, such as “causes of gambling addiction”, “How to end gambling addiction” have also increased. The concepts such as “gambling addiction treatment”, “how to get rid of gambling addiction” and “rehab for gambling addiction” similar to a sharp increase.
Growing concern
The legality of sports fantasy applications remains widespread ambiguity. Critics claim that such platforms support dependence on gambling, especially among youth.
During hearing a court dispute in the public interest (PIL), the Supreme Court recently expressed concern about the uncontrollable betting during the IPL matches. “In the name of IPL, many people bet and indulge in gambling. It’s a serious problem,” said the bench last week.
Gambling laws in India differ from state to state and there is no central legislation that would clearly regulate online betting. The legal status of these platforms often depends on whether the game is considered a skill or a chance.
In the past, the Supreme Court ruled that games such as Rummy and Fantasy Sport are skill games and therefore do not fall into the traditional laws of gambling.
Toll online betting
The impact of online betting is significant – and grows. Reports often describe in detail the stories of teenagers and young adults suffering from strong financial losses due to compulsive betting.
In one incident since March this year, a technical professional in Bengalur has lost Crore RS 1.5 for betting. His wife later died suicide after the creditors who borrowed began to bother the betting of the family.
As a result, more individuals seek help from psychiatrists and advisors. The therapist of mental health in Delhi Arouba Kabir says she sees three to five patients addicted to IPL or other sports betting every month, especially during cricket periods and main tournaments.
“This number often accumulates during the IPL season, because of easy access to the applications and pressure of mutual control,” says India today.
“IT (sports dependence) gives the illusion of control and easy money, but psychologically it works similarly to the dependence on the substance-the brain reward system. Cycle of expectations, rewards and accidents makes it difficult to stop without professional help,” adds Enso Wellness.
Although there are no publicly available data on the prevalence of online gambling in India, the American Psychiatric Association estimates that between 0.4 and 4 % of adults in the United States are developing gambling disorder in their lives.
Some of the common signs of dependence on sports bets include obsessive score control, impaired concentration, declining work performance, financial problems (loans, assets, hidden debts, even theft) and secrecy or dishonesty with family members.
Published:
Shipra Parashar
Published on:
31. May 2025
