Online Gambling: A New Peril
The rise of online gambling is an another feather in the cap of devil playing successfully every possible evil in the fabric of digital economies. Being non-conversant with digital knowledge and its intricacies Kashmiris are a cakewalk for the operators who gain ultimately after some tricky initial allurements to the novice. Online gambling also known as iGambling or iGaming is betting or playing games of chance or with an element of skill such as roulette, video poker, craps, blackjack, baccarat, sports betting, casinos etc., on the devices like computer, tablet, laptop, smart phone, virtual chips or any mobile phone with an internet connection.
Technology has immense potential to drive the engine of economic growth and social transformation but its misuse can annihilate the world in a jiffy. Instance galore where persons rich turned paupers by losing their possessions in seconds due to gambling. The uses of internet and android phones have facilitated wide and easy access to gambling activities which were previously restricted to conventional games or actual betting. It is a killing and thrilling diversion from reality to the stupefacient valleys of imaginative world where commoners rush and genius fear to tread.
Taking it as a bon’marche to become wealthy overnight many people fall prey to it. It is an addiction like substance use or alcohol where weaker minds desperate to defenestrate their financial and emotional disorders take refuge under a catastrophic shelter risking their families & possessions. Massaging applications and media platforms are replete with advertisements for online gambling masquerading as lucrative opportunities promising instant and monumental bucks.
Most games have mathematically predetermined knots that ensure platforms an advantage over the players. These houses entrap the players with some initial wins intoxicating them to enjoy further and larger gains but ending up in financial insolvency and mental agony. Playing this addiction at harmful levels causes losers psychological consequences like stress related disorders, low self-esteem, depression, poor sleep and anxiety.
The Islamic perspective on gambling is clear, declaring it haram as Allah has forbidden it. It destroys families, separates spouses, sours relations and causes loss of wealth through haram means, creates hatred and enmity amongst the players. Allah commands in the holy book of the Quran Surah No. 5, ayaat 90 and 91, “O ye who believe, intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork, eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper. Satan’s plan is but to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer, will ye not then abstain?”
In professional and legal parlance gambling can be defined as a wagering contract wherein two people enter into a contract. First party pays the second party on completion of an event and the second party pays the first party on non-completion of an event although all the wagering contracts are void under Section 30 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. Simply gambling is any sort of predicting happening or non-happening of an undecided future event based on chance or an element of skill for exchange of some fixed consideration for the persons betting.
Knowing its exploitative nature some people still rush to ride this remotely controlled galloping digital stallion only to fall flat and rue. Gambling effects the part of brain that releases dopamine known as ‘feel-good hormone’. It plays a small part in the fight or flight syndrome. It is body’s response to a perceived or actual stressful precarious situation where one wants to escape. Use of cryptocurrencies and obscurity of digital platforms render it tough to track gambling activities cascading its effects on the vulnerable lot. Though there is a Public Gambling Act, 1867 under Central Government laws yet it is too inadequate to deal with the complexities of online gambling.
For Muslims prima facie reason for any kind of gambling-online or offline, is either ignorance of the Quranic commands quoted ad-supra or brazen violation thereof. Rest are unemployment, disguised employment, financial & digital illiteracy, greed to amass wealth illegally & instantly, dearth of recreational and entertainment facilities, inadequate environment for investment ventures, poverty etc. To obviate poverty and replenish losses people are scourged to illegal and immoral practices like stealing, theft, robbery, dacoity, burglary, adultery, adulteration, frauds, gambling etc. Second is the ghost of unemployment and the disguised employment. According to Periodic Labour Force Survey, Jammu & Kashmir’s overall unemployment rate rose to 11.8 percent and also 32 percent of the youth between 15 and 29 years were unemployed during the July-September quarter of 2024.
The J & K economy being predominantly rural & agricultural a lot of people are engaged in agriculture though sometimes it is disguised one. However, for more than a decade thousands of kanals of land were lost to various land intensive projects which rendered some people homeless, some jobless and some production less that culminated in emotional and financial issues, domestic violence, family conflicts, estrangement, divorce, criminal activities, mental health care problems and now online gambling. Private sector yet in a start-up stage and paucity of jobs in government sector too frustrate the educated youth to find a square meal. Political scenario shadowed with various contrasting narratives has also fueled the proclivity to gambling. Absence of moral and ethical teachings has added salt to injury keeping it bleeding all time.
To overcome this menace requires a multi-pronged strategy. The premier responsibility lies with government which it can discharge by banning forthwith online gambling, banning advertisements for online gambling on social media platforms, clear cut direction and authority to internet service providers to block access to gambling platforms, strengthening cyber security system to detect, track and dismantle illegal platforms, if any, operating anywhere, creating employment opportunities and employability, enforcing constructively in toto the gambling preventive existing laws and rules, introducing moral teaching and ethical values in all educational institutions from bottom to top to produce better and responsible citizenry, spreading skill development progammes and encouraging entrepreneurship.
Provide alternate lands to those who have lost dwelling places, commercial units and productive lands. Yoking non-governmental organizations, community leaders, religious expert authorities can also play a vital role in eradicating this cancerous gaming. Under social bondage and legal obligations people in general are also required to cooperate with government and fight collectively all approaches to gambling.
The author is a former Sr. Audit Officer and Consultant in the A.G’s Office Srinagar.
