addiction

FROM LITTLE BETS TO RAFFLES: HOW THE INFLUENCE INDUSTRY TURNED FINANCIAL DESPAIR INTO A BUSINESS
A dossier on legal and illegal bets, mobile casinos, advertising to minors, performance-rewarding contracts, police operations, and the social cost of selling gambling as a way out of poverty
Closing of the tally: August 30, 2026
On social media, conspicuous display and promises of easy money help normalize betting among young people
The ad almost always tells the same story. A phone in hand, a rising balance on the screen, an over-the-top celebration, and the promise that anyone can repeat the result. Sometimes the setting is a mansion; other times, a VIP box, an international trip, or the seat of a luxury car bank. The influencer plays, “wins,” shows the Pix, and delivers the link.