AIGF CEO calls for strict measures against illegal offshore betting platforms

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Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), has urged the government of India to regulate offshore betting and gambling platforms. Landers emphasized the need for models like the Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) to be swiftly implemented to address this issue, reported Devdiscourse.

He highlighted the impact of offshore companies and stated that these platforms operate without any official presence in India, leading to revenue losses for the national exchequer. The AIGF estimates that illegal offshore betting and gambling entities cause a loss of USD 2.5 billion to the country’s economy annually.

Lander’s concerns are also reported in an article in The Print. It mentions that these platforms often blend legitimate gaming with illegal betting and gambling activities, causing confusion among users. Such practices not only harm users but also undermine the credibility of the legitimate gaming industry in India.

According to Landers, offshore entities capitalize on major events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) to market their platforms, enticing users with claims of no GST or TDS levied on their platforms. He stressed the need for measures to curb the spread of these illegal offshore platforms.

Landers advocated for the establishment of the SRO by the government to differentiate between legitimate and illegitimate gaming platforms. While the government has proposed the formation of an SRO, Landers noted that the process has faced delays.

Several industry players have applied to set up an SRO, but Landers revealed that the AIGF has not received any updates on the status of their applications. He said the importance of collaborative efforts between the government and industry stakeholders to address the threat posed by illegal offshore betting and gambling platforms.

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