Chennai: Trigger warning: The article has distressing content. It is one thing to be passionate about an activity and another to be addicted to it.

The lockdown period saw people spending more time on online card games, or rummy as it is popularly called, which has had its repercussions.

Many turned to gambling online to make quick bucks. On the other hand, most of them lost their hard-earned money and are dealing with financial and mental health challenges as a result of it.

A couple of days ago, a man in Puducherry ended his life after losing nearly Rs 30 lakh playing ‘rummy’ online. Identified as Vijaykumar (38), he was a father of two children.

He allegedly doused himself in petrol and immolated. Vijaykumar left behind voice clips on WhatsApp for his wife saying he was ending his life after losing Rs 30 lakh to online gambling.

Vijaykumar was running a shop selling sim cards and phone accessories. However, he began indulging in online games during the lockdown.

After losing a huge part of his savings, Vijayakumar began borrowing from his friends and relatives and he subsequently lost Rs 30 lakh.

Vijaykumar said he was behaving like a ‘drug addict’ and lost Rs 3 lakh in three days. “I am addicted to this extent”, he said.

“Many people like me are trapped. Let me be the last one to die and the gaming company must be held responsible”, he had said.

In a separate incident, in July, a college student in Chennai committed suicide after losing money playing cards on an online portal.

He was working part-time at a store and had stolen Rs 20,000 from his employer to gamble online. However, after losing all the money he committed suicide leaving behind a note.

There are many websites which conduct gamblings and activists demand a ban on them. “The government had banned lottery tickets and horse racing long back after people became addicts to them and lost money. The danger of online rummy is getting bigger each passing day. It is high time to ban those sites,” says Ravikumar, a professor.

Countering the claim that online card games, like rummy, are not illegal, Keerthivasan, an advocate says, “Even apps like PubG and Hello were marked safe till recently. When the government could ban them, why not these rummy sites which are snatching away the lives of youngsters.”

Aravind (name changed), a former regular player says, “I feel awareness need to be built around such addictive games. After finding myself addicted to it, I slowly came out of online rummy with the help of family and friends. But many are falling prey to the tall claims and attractive advertisements which are everywhere online.”

How to come out of it?

* Identify the addiction: If you find yourself spending hours gaming and disconnected from the rest of the world, you could have a problem.

* Speak to a friend and ask for help in de-addicting. Maintain accountability for time and money.

* Quickly find a new hobby and delete the App from your device.

* There are many off and online groups which offer help.