‘The family paid the price’

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-12T08:45:30.061Z • Permanent link

India's online gambling crisis has claimed numerous lives, with a devastating impact on families and communities. The crisis is centered around a specific online gaming platform, Run It Up, which operated in the country until its sudden shutdown in April 2022. The platform, founded by British entrepreneur Andrew Crisp, had become a favorite among Indian punters, with millions of players depositing millions of dollars into their accounts.

The shutdown of Run It Up was preceded by a series of regulatory warnings from Indian authorities, who had been cracking down on online gaming operators for several years. In 2020, the Indian government had launched a crackdown on online gaming, deeming it a form of gambling and imposing strict regulations on the industry. Despite these warnings, Run It Up continued to operate, with many players unaware of the risks involved.

The consequences of the shutdown were immediate and far-reaching. Players who had deposited money into their accounts were left with nothing, with some reports suggesting that millions of dollars were lost. The families of those who had lost money were left to pick up the pieces, with many struggling to cope with the financial and emotional impact of the shutdown.

The shutdown of Run It Up has significant implications for the global online gaming industry. The platform was one of the largest and most popular online gaming operators in India, with millions of players and millions of dollars in revenue. The shutdown has sent shockwaves through the industry, with many players and operators left wondering what the future holds.

The Indian government's crackdown on online gaming has also had a broader impact on the country's financial markets. The shutdown of Run It Up has led to a decline in the value of Indian stocks, with many players and operators worried about the impact on the industry as a whole. The government's decision to crack down on online gaming has also led to calls for greater regulation of the financial sector, with many arguing that the industry is ripe for greater oversight.

The shutdown of Run It Up is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger pattern of regulatory crackdowns on online gaming operators around the world. In recent years, governments have been cracking down on online gaming operators, deeming it a form of gambling and imposing strict regulations on the industry. This trend is expected to continue, with many governments looking to regulate the industry and protect their citizens from the risks involved.