When the game doesn’t stop: IPL bets, debts and despair

It’s not just on the field that the Indian Premier League (IPL) season is in full swing, the frenzy plays out at de-addiction centres across the country as well. At Chennai-based psychiatrist Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar’s clinic, those addicted to IPL betting begin to show up almost as soon as the first ball is bowled.“They’re usually brought in by family members who notice sudden changes in behaviour such as anger, anxiety, or withdrawal, or when debts pile up and collection agents come knocking,” she says.But as another expert points out, the 'season’ continues even after the tournament is over. “It’s a yearly pattern,” says Soumya Shankar Raman, chief operating officer at the TT Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation in Chennai. “We see an average of 40 gambling cases a month, but that jumps by 20% post-IPL.”Young And TrappedWhat’s worrying, says Soumya, is the growing number of teens and young adults getting sucked into the addiction spiral. “They start with fantasy sports, often taking instant online loans to gamble. It begins with Rs 500 and ends in crores. That first win hooks them,” she says, calling online platforms a gateway to long-term gambling.Martin Peters of Samarpan, a rehab centre in Pune and Mumbai, says they’ve had clients who have been Rs 7-8 crore in debt. “IPL is the big one, but they also bet on greyhound racing, football, kabaddi, even sports they don’t follow. We get 20 gambling enquiries a week. We’re a paid service, so some may not have the means to access us,” he says.Gamblers Anonymous, though free, does not have much of a presence in India.Dr Jayant Mahadevan, assistant professor at the centre for addiction medicine at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans), Bengaluru, says IPL acts as a trigger. “Over time, we’ve seen gamblers shift from cricket to unfamiliar sports such as baseball or rugby. This shift from informed betting to chance-based gambling is a common pattern as the addiction progresses.” medium nocaption120475168Suicide TriggerIndia’s illegal sports betting market is worth an estimated $100 billion annually and growing at 30%. A 2023 Think Change Forum report says more than 140 million Indians regularly participate in online betting, going up to 370 million during events such as IPL.Another report says Google searches for betting during IPL seasons from 2021 to 2024 saw an “exponential rise”.Dr Mahadevan says there has been a shift in addiction profiles. “Alcohol addiction is more common among the lower socio-economic groups. Gambling, especially online, is seen among the middle and upper-middle classes as it needs money and access. Most of our gambling clients are in their 20s and 30s, and over half are into sports betting. Earlier, it used to be mainly rummy and poker.” Globally, says Dr Vijayakumar, founder of suicide prevention helpline Sneha, gambling has one of the highest suicide risks. “About 40% of people with gambling addiction have attempted suicide.”Thriving On 3 AsDr Vijayakumar says addictive behaviour, including gambling addicition, rose during the pandemic, possibly as a means to cope with social isolation, grief or financial loss. “Online platforms use algorithms that offer small wins at first as a means to hook users. It is more dangerous due to availability, anonymity and affordability.”The average online gambler is about 10 years younger than offline ones, says Dr Vijayakumar. “Poor impulse control and poor decision-making — common among youngsters — along with online peer pressure and aggressive marketing highlight the harm online gambling can cause to the young and vulnerable,” she says.Gambling-linked suicides are reported widely. In March, a man in Bihar killed himself after losing Rs 2 crore in online cricket betting. In February, a family in Mysuru did the same, unable to repay their losses.Dr Vijayakumar says there are red flags to watch out for: spending more time or money than intended, neglecting daily responsibilities and constant thoughts about gambling. For families, warning signs of a member addicted to gambling include irritability, withdrawal, disturbed sleep and sudden obsession with a new team. “Like a die-hard Chennai Super-Kings fan suddenly rooting for Lucknow Super Giants aggressively.”Genetics also plays a role. “About 50% of addiction risk is hereditary,” says Dr Mahadevan. “Trauma or chronic stress can alter how the brain processes reward, making some people more prone to thrill-seeking and impulsivity.” Treatment, he says, involves three stages: crisis management, therapy to correct distorted risk perception, and medication to reduce urges. “Family support is critical. Addiction needs understanding, not judgment.”Also read: How IPL-fuelled gambling addiction is taking a toll on Indian banksmedium nocaption120473998The teen who nearly sold his superbikeArjun (name changed) began betting at 17. By 18, he was so deep into sports betting during IPL that his parents brought him to a rehabilitation centre, believing he had a porn addiction. “He keeps locking himself in his room,” they told counsellors. They had even removed the bolts from his bedroom door. In the sessions that followed, it became clear that the real issue was gambling. “One of the first clues,” a senior official at the centre said, “was the disappearance of the thick gold chain he wore when he first came to the centre.”Initially, Arjun said he had lost it, but later confessed he had sold it. He was also on the verge of selling his superbike to pay off debts. “His father is a businessman. There was always cash lying around, and Arjun could sell valuables without raising suspicion,” the official said.An only child, Arjun says he was just “tired of being controlled” by his parents. “They wouldn’t even let me sleep in my own room till I fought about it,” he says. “My friends were betting, too. I thought if I won consistently, it would prove to my parents that I had business sense, too, and could be a success without their help.”Change is visible now with counselling and medication. “This is his first IPL since treatment. He’s watching, but not betting. And calls when he feels triggered. That’s progress,” said the official.