Online operations grow in India
A crackdown on short-terms casinos forced operators to increase their digital platforms and online apps.
India.- Operators are increasing their presence in online platforms and apps after a recent crackdown on betting rackets and short-term casinos in Delhi-NCR. The digital platforms are being used to target members-only communities.
Operators are allegedly creating exclusive online clubs in which clients place their bets in real time and collect the money offline the following day, Daily Mail revealed. A senior Delhi police who requested anonymity confirmed to the news outlet that they “have inputs about gambling agents who are sharing links with businessmen of Delhi-NCR to play card games online and huge money is being traded each night.”
The police agent said that whilst earlier these operators used to rent a farmhouse or bungalow for organising poker, card-based games, and roulette around the festival of Diwali, now they use digital covers for their operations, and it is difficult to crackdown on online players as most of the sites are hostel in other countries. “There are several roadblocks, which includes getting a log from the said app or site operator. Simultaneous raids at individual houses and gathering technical evidence are other impediments.”
UP Police Special Task Force (STF) additional superintendent Triveni Singh commented: “Playing chance-based games, including card and number games on the online platform, is increasing as general perception is that it is legit. It is not. We have received specific inputs and based on that we are tracking traffic going to popular gambling and betting sites. We have solid leads of some of the major operators.”
Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation, which demanded the legalisation of skill-based games, said: “The casino business has huge potential as it can generate revenue for the state. Black money is involved in it as it is not legal. As soon as a state decides to legalise and regulate it, many corporates will come forward to operate it professionally.”
