A few years ago, social media felt like a fun, light space. Cat videos, travel reels, dance trends, relatable rants—it was chaotic but innocent. Fast forward to today, and you’ll notice something more subtle sneaking into your feed: flashy promotions promising easy cash, fantasy cricket winnings, or “one-click” money-making secrets.
Almost all of them trace back to one rising category: betting apps.
At first glance, they might seem like harmless entertainment. But peel back the glitter, and what you’ll find is a cocktail of legal loopholes, influencer irresponsibility, and dangerous real-life consequences.
Betting Apps: The New Digital Gold Rush?
It’s no secret that the betting and fantasy gaming industry in India is booming. According to a Statista report, the Indian online gambling market is projected to reach over ₹15,000 crore by 2027. That includes fantasy sports, card-based apps, online poker rooms, and games that cleverly skirt the definition of gambling.
But here’s the catch—many of these platforms are technically illegal, especially those operating offshore, without Indian licensing, or hiding behind misleading “game of skill” labels.
Still, they’re everywhere—fueled by aggressive influencer promotions and digital ads that dance on the line of legality.
Influencers: From Creators to Enablers?
If you’ve spent time on Instagram or YouTube lately, you’ve probably seen an influencer saying:
“Guys, I just won ₹10,000 on this fantasy app—it’s totally real. Try it before tonight’s match!”
What they don’t tell you: it’s a paid promotion. Or that they’ve been handed referral links with commissions. Or that the app has terrible withdrawal policies, limited customer support, or no real licensing.
In many cases, influencers aren’t even aware of the harm they’re facilitating. They’re offered money—sometimes in the ₹20K–₹1 lakh per post range—to simply talk about a game. And they do it without disclosing the risk, legality, or financial traps.
According to ASCI’s 2025 report, 98% of influencer content promoting betting and fantasy apps failed to comply with advertising guidelines. Let that sink in—almost every promotion you’ve seen could be breaking the law or deceiving you.
And the worst part? The audience most influenced by these promotions is young people—teenagers, college students, and unemployed youth looking for “easy side income.”
Betting Apps Target Your Mind – and Your Wallet
Let’s move beyond marketing for a moment and talk about real human impact. Because that’s where the true danger of betting apps lies.
Built for Addiction
Most betting and fantasy apps use psychological tricks designed to keep users hooked. These include:
- Near-miss effects (making it feel like you almost won)
- Instant reward sounds and animations
- Streak bonuses to make you return daily
This is what’s known as a variable reward loop—the same method used in slot machines and casino games. According to Psychology Today, this system creates addictive behaviors that mimic drug responses in the brain.
One Bet Away From Losing Everything
The typical user starts with ₹50 or ₹100. It’s all fun until it isn’t. Studies have shown that once someone loses their initial deposit, the app offers “second chances” or “free spins”—not as kindness, but to get them emotionally reinvested.
Before long, users may:
- Top up using credit cards
- Borrow money to “win it back”
- Lie to friends or family about their losses
- Chase emotional highs through gambling
In India, financial counseling services have started reporting an increase in young adults addicted to fantasy gaming apps, losing anywhere from ₹5,000 to ₹1 lakh per month on average.
What the Law Allows – and Ignores
India doesn’t have a central gambling law. Instead, each state governs betting and gaming separately. States like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have imposed strict bans on online gambling platforms. Others still allow fantasy sports under the “game of skill” umbrella.
But here’s the problem: offshore betting apps bypass Indian servers, operate through proxy domains, and use Indian influencers for marketing. Enforcement becomes tricky.
Even global giants like Meta and Google have started tightening ad policies. In March 2025, both platforms restricted paid ads for gambling apps in India—but influencer marketing remains unregulated.
This is the loophole most apps exploit today.
Digital Marketing’s Role in the Mess
This isn’t just about illegal apps—it’s about the ecosystem of promotion that enables them.
- Brands partner with influencers without auditing their past posts.
- Influencer marketing agencies skip legal reviews in favor of fast payments.
- Viewers trust creators and follow their links without understanding the risk.
Even worse, the credibility of digital marketing is slowly eroding. A 2025 survey by LocalCircles found that 62% of Indian users now distrust influencer product recommendations, citing paid bias and misleading promotions.
How Ethical Marketers Can Draw the Line
Here’s how ethical brands and agencies (like Real Rank Riser) can lead the way:
Do Real Background Checks
Check influencer history across all platforms. If they’ve recently promoted betting, crypto scams, or shady apps—move on.
Educate Micro-Influencers
Many small creators don’t understand the legal consequences. Offer education, not just money.
Add “No Gambling” Clauses
Include explicit restrictions on gambling, fantasy, or high-risk financial apps in your influencer contracts.
Be Transparent
If you’re running a campaign during IPL or similar seasons, make it clear you don’t support betting-based traffic boosts.
Audit Every Link
Tools like CheckMyLink or affiliate filters can help prevent accidental exposure to shady referral sites.
Looking to run clean, high-impact influencer campaigns? Work with Real Rank Riser—we prioritize reach with responsibility.
Final Thoughts: We Can’t Market at the Cost of Minds
Yes, engagement matters. Yes, growth matters. But what matters even more is what kind of impact we leave behind.
Influencer marketing has always been built on trust. If we allow that trust to be sold off to the highest bidder—especially when that bidder is a disguised betting app—we aren’t just losing credibility. We’re damaging real people’s lives.
The digital world is powerful. Let’s not use that power to exploit. Let’s use it to uplift.