New Delhi — In a major crackdown on online betting operations allegedly linked to financial crimes, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued notices to tech giants Google and Meta, summoning their representatives for questioning on July 21. The central agency is probing their alleged role in promoting illegal betting apps through advertisements and platform visibility.
The ED’s action comes amid an intensifying investigation into a sprawling network of online betting apps suspected of being involved in money laundering, hawala transactions, and illegal gambling, all under the guise of so-called “skill-based games.”
According to sources in the agency, Google and Meta allegedly enabled wide visibility of these platforms by offering them premium advertising slots and allowing associated websites to flourish on their search and social media platforms.
“These platforms provided crucial visibility to illegal betting operations, indirectly facilitating the laundering of illicit funds,” an ED official said. The financial watchdog believes these companies may have overlooked red flags while monetizing such content, contributing to the apps’ popularity and reach.
Celebrities, Influencers Booked
This development follows the ED’s recent action against 29 actors, influencers, and YouTubers, primarily from the Telugu film and television industry, who allegedly endorsed or promoted illegal betting platforms.
Film stars Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Nidhi Agarwal, Pranitha Subhash, Manchu Lakshmi, and Ananya Nagella are among those named in the probe. Social media personalities and TV figures such as Sreemukhi, Shyamala, Varshini Sounderajan, Vasanthi Krishnan, and Bayya Sunny Yadav also feature in the list.
The ED’s case is based on five FIRs registered in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and the investigation is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Earlier in March, several of the named celebrities were booked by the Cyberabad Police for their alleged links to betting platforms.
While many celebrities have denied wrongdoing, stating they were unaware the platforms were illegal, the ED maintains that their endorsements may have misled millions into participating in gambling disguised as games of skill.
Betting Platforms Under the Scanner
The betting apps under scrutiny include Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, Parimatch, Lotus365, and others. These platforms are believed to have funneled crores of rupees through underground financial channels, bypassing regulatory oversight using hawala routes and digital wallets.
The ED believes that these operations have evolved into sophisticated financial ecosystems that exploit legal loopholes, celebrity influence, and digital marketing tools to flourish in India’s growing online gaming market.
With the inclusion of global tech firms in the probe, the case now assumes international significance, raising questions over Big Tech’s role and responsibility in moderating content and advertising that may be linked to illegal financial activity.
More developments are expected after the scheduled questioning of Google and Meta representatives on July 21.
