A couple lost 5 lakhs as their kids secretly played online gambling and betting games, highlighting the dangers of online gaming addiction. The loss came to the parents' attention when the father, Chandrashekhar Singh, went to the bank to withdraw some cash.

The boys like their peers were drawn to the world of online gaming and seduced by the claims of winning big and advancing in games, they kept spending money, cleverly concealing the transactions from their parents.

The parents were unaware until one day the father decided to check both his and his wife’s accounts after being advised that their bank balance wasn't sufficient when he attempted to withdraw some cash from his bank and discovered that Rs 5 lakh were missing. 

online gaming addiction
Image Source: Innovecs Games

When questioned about the money, the kids blamed it on the hacker. However, their secret was revealed when the father spoke with an income tax attorney, that his children, Aditya, a seventh-grader, and Ansh, an eighth-grader, had spent money on the internet betting games.

A similar incident occurred in Hyderabad at the beginning of this year, where a 16-year-old spent Rs 36 lakh on mobile games, emptying his mother’s bank account and leaving her without any money. 

As youngsters are exposed to unsupervised screen time as well as online betting and gambling, these situations become more frequent. Concerns about children's online activity being monitored are a real concern for the public. 

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