Thanks to the efforts of IPS Officer VC Sajjanar, Police in both the Telugu States are cracking the whip on Social Media Influencers who are promoting Betting Apps.
Cases were registered on a few and arrests were also made. Some of the influencers started apologizing in fear of arrest and they stopped promoting such Apps.
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But then, the core problems still remain unaddressed.
These influencers are small fish. The problem is much bigger than that.
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When we watch Cricket on Television or Hotstar these days, the slots between the overs are completely filled with Ads of these Betting Apps featuring Celebrities.
While Celebrities promote these Apps, they neatly package them in the name of Fantasy Cricket Apps but the end result is same. Shah Rukh Khan is promoting one such App.
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Previously, actresses Kajal Aggarwal and Tamannah did that.
And nobody can touch these celebrities.
TV Advertisements are completely filled with Surrogate Ads. We see the Ads of Soda, they actually promote Liquor.
We see the Ads of Pan Masala, they actually promote Gutkha. Ajay Devgan, Tiger Shroff, and even Mahesh Babu is doing it.
Sad to see that the Government is turning a blind eye to this.
The Government does not ban these Online Apps because it is making a hell lot of money in the name of Sin Tax.
Just like how Liquor contributes huge money to the Exchequer, these Apps are also filling the coffers despite killing people and pushing families into the debt trap.
Instead of Banning this evil, online gaming, including skill-based and chance-based games, is subject to a 28% GST which applies to the total value of consideration received, including entry fees.
Winnings from online games are taxed as “income from other sources” under Section 115BB of the Income Tax Act, 1961, at a flat rate of 30%, regardless of the amount won.
Despite the Sin Tax since 2023, India’s gaming market grew 23 percent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) by revenue to $3.8 billion in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24).
So, the Government does not want to kill a cash cow.
The Government makes big bucks, celebrities make huge money by endorsing them, Cand hannels make a fortune by selling Ad slots at hefty prices.
The arrests of Small-time influencers will not stop this menace.
