Online Gambling via Mobile Games on the Rise in Pakistan, Experts Warn of Alarming Trend

RAWALPINDI: (By Malik Imran) – Online and mobile gaming in Pakistan is increasingly becoming a new avenue for gambling, with games like Chicken Run, Ludo, and Tiger Dragon attracting a growing number of children and young adults. What may appear as harmless entertainment is turning into a serious addiction, causing financial losses worth millions.

According to reports, many of these games require players to stake real money, with outcomes largely dependent on chance rather than skill. This model mirrors traditional gambling, and experts say the trend is spiraling out of control. Young people, lured by the promise of quick money, often end up draining their wallets — some even fall into debt.

Sources reveal that transactions for these games are commonly carried out via mobile payment platforms such as JazzCash and Easypaisa, making the process of betting and withdrawing money seamless and accessible. This ease of access has further fueled the spread of these gambling-style games.

Legal and social experts believe this trend represents a modern form of gambling, which is rapidly gaining ground in Pakistan. Law enforcement agencies, however, seem ill-equipped to deal with the complex digital mechanisms behind these games. According to police insiders and cybercrime experts, there is a lack of adequate tools and frameworks to effectively trace and curb this new-age gambling phenomenon.

Experts say the presence of illegal betting apps and in-game monetary rewards on the internet is driving this dangerous shift, with serious social and domestic consequences.

Legal expert Qaiser Abbas Advocate explained that gambling in any form is strictly prohibited under Pakistan’s Prevention of Gambling Act 1977, and any form of betting involving monetary rewards is a criminal offense. He noted that a new bill recently passed in parliament seeks to impose a complete ban on “online money games” to protect youth from financial and psychological harm.

Another legal expert, Naeem-ul-Hasan Awan Advocate, stated that if a game is limited to points or non-monetary rewards, it may be considered acceptable. However, once real money is involved — whether through staking or prize-based incentives — it falls under the legal definition of gambling.

Concerned parents and social scientists are urging the government and relevant authorities to immediately block access to any apps or games involving real-money betting or prize-based play. They are also calling for increased parental oversight of children’s mobile and internet use.

Psychologists have issued warnings that gambling addiction can become as destructive as drug dependency, leading not only to financial losses but also severe mental stress and family breakdowns. Experts are stressing the urgent need for awareness campaigns to educate the public and protect the younger generation from the growing dangers of online gambling.