Dr Javed Jamil
THE recent ban on online gambling by India’s Parliament is a highly welcome step. It is a late measure; but better late than never. Moreover, all forms of gambling, not just online gaming need to be banned at the earliest. Furthermore, there is a need to ban all such practices that cause dangerous diseases, which lead to high mortality rates, and social problems like various crimes and family disorders.
Everybody knows what gambling is, at least in essence. But few understand how dangerous it is: Physically, mentally as well as socially. Let us try to understand some facts about its implications at the personal, social, national and global level.
Let us first focus on some medical facts about gambling:
Gambling is recognised by medical fraternity as a disease, which is called pathological gambling. According to the National Research Council, “pathological gamblers “engage in destructive behaviours: they commit crimes, they run up large debts, they damage relationships with family and friends, and they kill themselves. With the increased availability of gambling and new gambling technologies, pathological gambling has the potential to become even more widespread.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK230627
The National Research Council of US states that “many families of pathological gamblers suffer from a variety of financial, physical, and emotional problems, including divorce, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and a range of problems stemming from the severe financial hardship that commonly results from problem and pathological gambling. Children of compulsive gamblers are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviours such as smoking, drinking, and using drugs, and have an increased risk of developing problem or pathological gambling themselves.”
https://www.nyproblemgambling.org/pdf/Social-and-Economic-Costs.pdf
Other problems include crime, loss of employment and bankruptcy. According to NRC, “As access to money becomes more limited, gamblers often resort to crime in order to pay debts, appease bookies, maintain appearances, and garner more money to gamble.” It has been found that “28 percent of pathological gamblers attending Gamblers Anonymous reported either that they had filed for bankruptcy or reported debts of $75,000 to $150,000.’”
The social problems due to gambling are even severer. Relatives, friends and employers suffer hugely. Employers complain of loss of work hours, embezzlement and inability to fulfil their financial obligations. NRC report further states: “How can we begin to measure the social impact of individuals who spend their children’s milk money or cash their welfare checks to buy lottery tickets, as the commission heard during visits to convenience stores? We cannot, but the commission can acknowledge that when gambling is promoted as “the only way to get ahead” and, in particular, targets those who do not have “leisure dollars” to spend, the economic and social, indeed, the moral fabric of our nation is damaged.” Reports say that one in fifth of gamblers attempt suicide; other reports speak of as high as two third contemplating suicide.
The impact on family is equally dangerous. In NORC’s survey, 53.5 percent of identified pathological gamblers reported having been divorced, versus 18.2 percent of non-gamblers and 29.8 percent of low-risk gamblers. Further NORC respondents representing two million adults identified a spouse’s gambling as a significant factor in a prior divorce. In a survey of nearly 400 Gamblers Anonymous members, 18 percent reported experiencing a gambling-related divorce. Another 10 percent said they were separated as a direct consequence of their gambling. The domestic violence and child abuse are significantly greater problems in the families of gamblers than non-gamblers. Several cases of children dying in cars have been reported on account of their father or mother leaving them locked and forgetting them, as they joined the casino.
Gambling was always bad. History is replete with the havoc caused by gambling in social lives. With the growth of economic fundamentalism, gambling, like other human addictions, became an organised business at the global level. Owing to the money involved in it, market forces were quick to use it as a big money-spinner. Not only have casinos burgeoned, gambling of one kind or the other has also become associated with almost all the vistas of business to accelerate their growth. Casinos are a regular part of tourism and entertainment industry. Betting is associated with almost all the big fixtures including political, entertainment and sports events. Lucky draws are being used to collect money as well as to boost the sales of hosts of consumer items. The globalisation of gambling also means globalisation of opportunities. The National Opinion Research Centre (NORC) of US has rightly stated that
“As the opportunities for gambling become more commonplace, it appears likely that the number of people who will develop gambling problems also will increase.”
According to WHO reports, more than a million people die of suicides globally every year. If many reports have shown that the gambling accounts for one in five cases of suicides, it means that as many as 200,000 people commit suicides on account of gambling related problems. Following are the Key facts according to WHO:
• Standardised global estimation of gambling harms has been limited, but estimates suggest that 1.2% of the world’s adult population has a gambling disorder. Harm from gambling by others is also widespread.
• Industry analysts estimate global gambling revenue will reach US$ 700 billion by 2028. Smartphone use in low- and middle-income countries will drive much of this growth.
• People gambling at harmful levels generate around 60% of losses (gambling revenue).
• Gambling can threaten health, leading to increased incidence of mental illness and suicide. It can drive poverty by diverting household spending from essential goods and services.
• Gambling harms also include relationship breakdown, family violence, financial distress, stigma, income-generating crimes (theft, fraud), neglect of children, and erosion of civil institutions via corruption and corporate political activity. Gambling is also a common way to launder money obtained through illegal activities.
• The rapid normalisation of gambling is occurring through commercialization and digitization. Sponsorship and marketing are also key factors in rapid global growth.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/gambling
India’s Case
According to various reports, India’s online gambling market is estimated to have 12.17 million users. That number was expected to grow by 8.5 percent a year until 2027. Hopefully, after ban, this trend is reversed. But the reversal will take place only if the ban is truly effective.
The British introduced gambling in India during the British Raj from the 17th century to 1947. The gambling industry quickly grew, forcing the British government to enact The Public Gambling Act of India in 1867. During the pandemic lockdown, online gambling games showed a high growth. According to a report, in 2021, legal sports betting in India was worth over $2 billion and the World Cup and Indian Premier League saw 340 million wagers in the country.
Gambling is a major public health problem in India as well like any other part of the world. According to a Lancet article, lifetime gambling prevalence is as high as 46%. The online gaming industry is expanding rapidly, and might grow to US$5 billion by 2025, with approximately 500 million users. The same report tells that 5–10 people are adversely affected for every person who experiences gambling problems and Gambling is associated with major community concerns, such as suicide, mental illness, debt, violence, poverty, and homelessness.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(23)00269-9/abstract
Hopefully again, the ban shows some improvement.
Studies have also shown that more than 90% of those with pathological gambling have a psychiatric disorder and more than 60% have three or more comorbidities.
Of course, apart from gambling, the world as well as India face huge problems due to alcohol, drugs, smoking and various unhealthy sexual practices. These also need to be effectively banned if the concern for the lives of the people is truly genuine. Religions, especially Islam and Hinduism, the two main religions in India should jointly start campaigns to ban these practices in India. This will not only save the lives of millions of people but will also lead to an atmosphere of communal harmony and goodwill in society. Corporate world will, of course, be the biggest obstacle. But they have to be told in no uncertain terms that marketing of dangerous substances and practices cannot be allowed. There is a need to introduce a chapter of Fundamental Prohibitions in the constitution in addition to Fundamental Rights and Duties. This will go a long way in creating a cleaner, healthier and more peaceful country and world.
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Dr Javed Jamil is a thinker, writer and Islamic scholar with more than two dozen books to his credit. The views expressed here are the author’s own and Clarion India does not necessarily share or subscribe to them.
