OUTSMARTING PREDATORY PRICING: INDIA’S 2025 BETTING BAN THROUGH A CUTTING-EDGE COMPETITION LAW LENS

india has witnessed a sharp rise in online betting addiction, which is amplified by limited regulatory control and fragmented legal framework. Mobile apps are unregulated and they often evade stringent control measures, exposing users to huge risks. This addiction problem burdens families and communities with debt, stress, and crime linked to unlawful gambling. Identifying these dangers, Indian Government has recently imposed bans and stricter regulations on multiple betting websites and apps, attempting to curb this growing menace. Despite these efforts, enforcement challenges exist due to these platforms being online and there exist a high demand among the Indian users/bettors. The societal harms from these mobile betting addiction in India emphasized the urgent need for robust legal frameworks and preventive initiatives from the Government to protect the vulnerable user population and preserve social well-being of the society in the digital age. The study analyses the new legislation through the lens of competition law and consumer law. Betting apps usually use aggressive pricing strategies and gamification tactics with the use of behavioral social engineering that can exclude smaller competitors in the market, thereby leading to a monopolistic dominance. In response to the growing Concerns, India, On August 20, 2025 has enacted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. The paper examines the intersection of legal, economic, and social dimensions thereby suggesting to refine the legal framework regarding online betting for the changing landscape aligning towards the welfare of the consumers and healthy competition