Srinagar, May 1 -- The thought of participating in online gambling would have been unthinkable for Asif until recently. Raised in a conservative household, the idea of betting was strictly forbidden. But the allure of the digital world, coupled with the casual interest shown by his friends, had slowly chipped away at his initial resistance.

He vividly remembers the first time he played. Hanging out with friends, the conversation turned to Aviator, a game that had become a hot topic among their group. Curiosity piqued, they decided to try their luck with a small sum. To their surprise, they walked away with a few thousand rupees - enough for a celebratory cup of tea.

"We were broke and just hanging out, Aviator turned our empty pockets i...