In a heartbreaking case of addiction-induced financial ruin, a man from Bandipora district in north Kashmir has lost more than Rs 1.5 crore to online gaming platforms, leaving his family homeless and trapped under a Rs 44 lakh debt.In an emotional video appeal now widely circulated on social media, the victim has issued a desperate warning to the public, especially the youth, describing online betting as a “drug” that destroyed his life. The man revealed that he was introduced to betting apps such as BC Game, Avator, and Chicken Road by a friend who claimed they could help resolve his financial difficulties.“One of my friends told me that this game could end all my debts. Instead, it ended my life,” he said, visibly distraught. He clarified that his borrowing began after his addiction took hold. “I didn’t borrow money because someone got sick. I borrowed after I got addicted. The addiction made me take loan after loan. Today, I owe Rs 44 lakh and have nothing left,” he said.What began with small sums quickly spiralled. “It began with Rs 100, then Rs 500. Slowly, it grew. Eventually, I began selling everything from my home to keep playing. I sold my house, my vehicles, my belongings – everything,” he recounted. The financial downfall has also deeply affected his daughter, who had to discontinue her NEET coaching in Srinagar due to mounting costs. “Her monthly expense was just Rs 8,500, but even that became too much. I had to bring her back home,” he said. Appealing for support, the man said, “Do anything to me, but please help my children. Support them in any way you can. These online games are not entertainment – they are drugs. Once you are hooked, you don’t come back.” Mental health professionals say the case underscores a growing crisis where vulnerable individuals fall prey to online betting under the illusion of quick riches.“People under financial or emotional stress are especially vulnerable,” said a Srinagar-based psychiatrist. “Online gaming apps manipulate the brain’s reward system. It is the same cycle we see with substance abuse – users keep playing, thinking the next win will solve everything. But it never does.” Cyber security experts warn that most such apps operate in legal grey zones and are notoriously hard to trace. “Many platforms are hosted overseas and use crypto wallets, making regulation difficult. They target youth on social media with fake testimonials and flashy advertising,” said a cyber analyst. Experts are now calling for tighter cyber laws, improved financial safeguards, and awareness campaigns in local languages to prevent others from falling into similar traps.As the video gains traction, social media users have expressed concern and called for community and government support for the affected family. There is also rising public pressure for regulation of online betting platforms and creation of rehabilitation mechanisms for victims of digital gambling. “I lost over Rs 1.5 crore not at once, but little by little,” the man concluded. “This didn’t happen overnight. I was drowning slowly. If my story can stop even one person from going down this path, then maybe some good can still come out of my pain.” RK
