Kartik Srinivas (name changed) still flinches at the mention of online betting. What began as a thrill to earn a quick buck spiralled into a five-year addiction that cost the 26-year-old his savings, peace of mind and nearly his future.

Between 2019 and 2024, Srinivas lost more than 1.5m rupees ($17,000; £13,000). The money included three years of his earnings, as well as savings and loans from friends and family.

"I tried everything - apps, local bookies, international platforms. I was hooked," he says.

By 2024, he was neck-deep in losses.

Srinivas' story reflects the darker side of India's once booming Real Money Games (RMG) industry - where players use online platforms to bet cash on poker, fantasy sports and other games.

Days ago, India passed a bill to outlaw these games, arguing they had become increasingly addictive and were leading to financial distress among people.

The new law makes offering or enabling such services punishable, with a jail term of up to three years and a fine of up to 10m rupees. Promoting them carries penalties of two years and 5m rupees, though users are treated as victims, not offenders.

The government has defended the move as a way to protect consumers from gambling.

Federal IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said online money games had harmed 450 million Indians, causing losses of over 200bn rupees and triggering "depression and suicides" among many. The source of this data, which was presented in parliament last week, is unclear.

But many in the industry have called the ban a knee-jerk move, which they say has crippled a thriving sector and would hurt those it is trying to protect.

Before the ban, India had around 400 RMG........

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