Game of Consultants

This resource examines whether India’s ban on real-money gaming was a justified consumer protection measure or an economically costly policy decision. It evaluates the ban’s implications for consumer safety, employment, foreign investment, tax revenues, and the broader digital economy.

The study analyses evidence supporting and challenging the ban, assessing concerns around financial distress, gambling addiction, money laundering, regulatory uncertainty, and the migration of users to offshore platforms..

The analysis ultimately questions the effectiveness of a blanket prohibition and recommends stronger regulatory frameworks, mandatory KYC-linked payments, spending limits, and targeted enforcement against illegal offshore platforms to balance consumer protection with economic sustainability.