Image Courtsey: Mid-Day
Mumbai:
The betting bug has now bitten teens, who are spending thousands in the hope of making a quick buck.
The Indian Premier League has not just come as a windfall for cricketers, but also for their teenaged fans. Youngsters are apparently making big bucks by betting on their favourite teams.
Sudhir K (name changed), an entrepreneur from Juhu, was shocked when his 16-year-old son asked him for Rs 5,000, saying that he could double the amount by the next evening. When Sudhir asked how he planned to do it, the son told him he was going to bet this money in the IPL matches, just like his friends had been doing.
"I couldn't believe my ears when my son told me what he was into. When I asked him who all were involved, he said all his friends. I have strictly told him not to get into this again," said Sudhir.
Sudhir said that the money the teenagers bet on IPL runs into thousands.
Dr Nisha Khanna (name changed) is also facing the same issue with her 17-year-old. However, she refused to call it a problem. She said, "When kids today can make good money in the stock market, which itself is a form of gambling, then why can't they bet? But this should be monitored. They shouldn't be allowed to bet a big amount. Few thousands are not an issue."
However, another mother who got depressed after realising that her 13-year-old son was getting into an illegal money making business blames the parents for all this. She said, "Parents bet in front of their kids and even kids pick up these habits. Parents should take care of what they are doing in front of their children. Right now I have asked my son not to get into this any more, he has assured me that he won't let me down."
"We have not yet received any such complaints. We request parents to come forward and approach the police.
We will help them. I wouldn't like to comment on whether the cases are increasing or not," said Amitabh Gupta, Additional CP (West).
Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist, said, "Teenagers especially between the age of 14-15 indulge in such activities to make some extra quick money so that they can spend it on their luxuries like pubs and other activities. Smoking and drinking beer are passe, betting and other hi-fi crimes are the new trends."
He also added that parents do play an important role in encouraging the children. If the child asks for Rs 5,000 they give Rs 500 thinking that the damage would be less. Parents bow to the demands of the kids fearing that they might take extreme steps, especially with the spate of student suicides in the city.
The Indian Premier League has not just come as a windfall for cricketers, but also for their teenaged fans. Youngsters are apparently making big bucks by betting on their favourite teams.
Sudhir K (name changed), an entrepreneur from Juhu, was shocked when his 16-year-old son asked him for Rs 5,000, saying that he could double the amount by the next evening. When Sudhir asked how he planned to do it, the son told him he was going to bet this money in the IPL matches, just like his friends had been doing.
"I couldn't believe my ears when my son told me what he was into. When I asked him who all were involved, he said all his friends. I have strictly told him not to get into this again," said Sudhir.
Sudhir said that the money the teenagers bet on IPL runs into thousands.
Dr Nisha Khanna (name changed) is also facing the same issue with her 17-year-old. However, she refused to call it a problem. She said, "When kids today can make good money in the stock market, which itself is a form of gambling, then why can't they bet? But this should be monitored. They shouldn't be allowed to bet a big amount. Few thousands are not an issue."
However, another mother who got depressed after realising that her 13-year-old son was getting into an illegal money making business blames the parents for all this. She said, "Parents bet in front of their kids and even kids pick up these habits. Parents should take care of what they are doing in front of their children. Right now I have asked my son not to get into this any more, he has assured me that he won't let me down."
"We have not yet received any such complaints. We request parents to come forward and approach the police.
We will help them. I wouldn't like to comment on whether the cases are increasing or not," said Amitabh Gupta, Additional CP (West).
Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist, said, "Teenagers especially between the age of 14-15 indulge in such activities to make some extra quick money so that they can spend it on their luxuries like pubs and other activities. Smoking and drinking beer are passe, betting and other hi-fi crimes are the new trends."
He also added that parents do play an important role in encouraging the children. If the child asks for Rs 5,000 they give Rs 500 thinking that the damage would be less. Parents bow to the demands of the kids fearing that they might take extreme steps, especially with the spate of student suicides in the city.
