Illegal Gambling in India: A Growing Challenge for the Regulated Industry

Illegal gambling continues to be a major issue across India, with black-market operators expanding their reach and attracting millions of users each year. Despite the country’s existing regulations, the illegal gambling sector remains resilient, growing annually and increasingly undermining the legal industry.

Black Market Gambling Sector Estimated at $100 Billion

Recent reports highlight the scale of the problem, with the illegal gambling sector in India estimated to be worth approximately $100 billion. This market has been growing at an alarming rate of around 30% each year. Approximately 28% of all gambling activities in India are conducted through offshore, unlicensed operators. These illegal platforms use aggressive marketing strategies, particularly through digital channels, to attract players from across the country.

The Growing Threat of Illegal Betting

The black market is not only growing in terms of revenue but also in terms of engagement. During the 2024 cricket IPL season alone, illegal betting companies recorded over 1.6 billion visits from Indian users—surpassing the 1.2 billion visits recorded by licensed operators. This suggests that illegal gambling is gaining traction, particularly during high-profile events, and continues to siphon away revenue from the legal industry.

Despite ongoing enforcement efforts by law enforcement, such as the recent takedown of a major illegal horse-betting ring in Hyderabad, the black market shows little sign of slowing down. In the first half of 2025 alone, police reported nearly 3,000 cases related to illegal online gambling and scams, indicating that the problem is widespread and growing.