By Devhuti Bakshi and Ayushi Karn
In Indian culture, gaming served as much more than an entertainment factor. It was an intellect and camaraderie-building tool, and sometimes even served as a testimony to one’s character. Traditional Indian games, such as Chaupar and Pachisi, symbolized strategic thinking and teamwork as well as the uncertainty of life. They were identified with the notions of honesty, integrity, and kindness, values held in very high regard in Indian society.
However, mythological literature reveals how easily these virtues are overpowered by greed and ambition. Take the Mahabharata, for example, where a game of dice that started as a harmless pastime became a catastrophic affair when integrity and honour gave way to deceit and greed. The results were devastating – a war that reshaped our Indian civilization.
The current online gaming ecosystem is prone to similar deceit. The legitimate gaming industry pioneered innovations and unlocked opportunities for social and economic development. However, some evil gambling operators (usually masquerading as gaming) have left users vulnerable and susceptible to exploitation. Cyber threats, problem gaming, and financial harm have become increasingly common. Much like the fabled game of dice in the Mahabharata, the fallout from the unscrupulous practice of online gambling can spill over into affecting entire communities and not just individuals.
The online gaming industry in India has become a frequent target of cybercrime, with attacks such as phishing, malware, and unauthorized access posing significant risks. A recent NortonLifeLock survey revealed that 75% of Indian gamers have faced such cyberattacks, incurring average financial losses of ₹7,894 per individual. While these attacks have shaken the trust in legitimate gaming platforms, cybercriminals have escalated their activities, targeting government entities at an alarming scale.
In 2024, more than 300 government websites, including those of central and state agencies, fell victim to cyberattacks orchestrated by hackers operating from foreign locations. These malicious actors exploited compromised portals, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare and the personal website of Mr. Vijay Goel, former Union Minister, to plant advertisements redirecting users to online betting platforms. Once redirected, users were encouraged to engage with fraudulent payment gateways, often involving cryptocurrency transactions.
This disturbing development underscores how illegitimate platforms are no longer confined to undermining the online gaming sector but have expanded their operations to infiltrate critical government frameworks, posing a dual threat to cybersecurity and public trust. While masquerading as gaming sites, such entities misuse user data, cheat, and rig the outcome of such games. For an industry attempting to assert its position as a worthy enabler of India’s economic vision, such practices raise concerns and discourage consumers, investors, and other stakeholders.
This is where the analogy of “separating the wheat from the chaff” comes into play. The online gaming industry needs to be separated from these rogue elements by embracing stricter regulatory standards and the adoption of transparency and integrity as a way of business. Just like how wheat sifts with extreme care so that chaff does not get mixed, this sector will have to weed out bad practices that would only help to tarnish the reputations of genuine playing platforms and create a wrong narrative.
A strong regulatory environment will not only protect the consumer but also strengthen the industry’s credibility. Bad actors can be shielded off with measures such as licensing, regular audits, and tight cybersecurity protocols. Similarly, public awareness campaigns against unethical gaming and the threats of illegal platforms can educate users to make the right decisions.
The stakes are high. Illegitimate operators, if left unchecked, will jeopardize the growth of an industry that is ready to catapult India’s digital economy to one of its top sectors. However, if tackled head-on with coordination between government, industry, and consumers, online gaming can be shaped into an innovative, safe, and respectable market.
Much like the Mahabharata teaches us, gaming can either unite and uplift or divide and destroy. The choice lies in how we navigate the challenges and protect the integrity of this evolving ecosystem. It is time to separate the wheat from the chaff and ensure that the values of integrity, fairness, and innovation triumph over greed and exploitation.
(The author is Devhuti Bakshi, Director – Public Policy, E-Gaming Federation and Ayushi Karn, Head – Strategic Outreach, E-Gaming Federation, and the views expressed in this article are their own)
