Authorities in Goa have intensified efforts to clamp down on online fraud and gambling activities following a worrying rise in scams, youth addiction, and even suicides linked to digital platforms.
Over the past 10 months, the Goa Police have blocked 672 fraudulent websites and 936 mobile numbers associated with illegal operations, including gambling, prostitution, and fake hotel bookings. According to local media reports, the crackdown began in October 2023, with enforcement peaking in May this year, when 270 fake sites were taken down in a single month.
In addition to blocking websites, police also blacklisted 134 mobile devices using their unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, as part of a broader cybercrime initiative. Notices were sent under the IT Act to internet service providers (ISPs) to facilitate these actions.
The state’s cybercrime unit identified that many of the scams targeted vulnerable groups, including senior citizens, women, and financially well-off individuals. Victims were often lured through links in seemingly legitimate messages or emails.
Teen death prompts urgent response
The suicide of a 19-year-old from Ponda in June 2025, after online gambling losses, has renewed concern over mental health and financial risks linked to unchecked online gaming.
Earlier this year, Goa’s cybercrime cell had also blocked 61 gambling websites as part of its ongoing campaign. Cybercrime Superintendent Rahul Gupta emphasised the urgency of the situation, citing multiple cases of fraud and financial exploitation. He noted that online gambling poses a persistent threat, particularly to youth, and called on the public to report such activities promptly.
The crackdown has been carried out under legal provisions including Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules.
Peter F Borges, former Chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, called for a more regulated approach rather than a blanket ban.
Addiction among youth draws scrutiny
He emphasised the importance of age-gating systems and called for increased parental participation. Borges also underlined the significance of establishing screen-time boundaries and promoting offline activities to support children’s mental and physical well-being.
Many families shared alarming stories of addiction, often uncovered too late. For example, a housewife from South Goa described how her son repeatedly asked for money, claiming it was for school expenses, only for the truth to come out after she heard about a similar incident in a nearby village. Another parent from Margao reported that her son, who studies outside Goa, had to be sent to a de-addiction center after falling into gambling debt.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has acknowledged the difficulties in regulating app-based online gambling. He admitted in the Assembly that youths face serious financial risks and directed the police and cybercrime units to intensify their crackdown.
Opposition lawmakers have alleged that more than 500 gambling operations are functioning across Goa, with estimated daily turnovers nearing ₹30 crore ($3.6 million). They have called for urgent and stricter enforcement.
While the government’s response has strengthened, experts say methods are still mostly reactive. They call for a proactive approach with education, digital safeguards, mental health support, and stricter regulation to tackle underlying issues driving the online gambling crisis.
