The federal agency has determined that celebrities used endorsement fees from the banned betting app to acquire properties that qualify as "proceeds of crime" under anti-money laundering laws.
Major Cricketers Under ED Scanner
Several high-profile cricketers have been questioned by ED officials in recent weeks, including former Indian stars Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Shikhar Dhawan. On September 23, Yuvraj Singh appeared at the ED's Delhi office for seven hours of questioning about his association with 1xBet, contract details, and whether he knew about the platform's illegal status. Actor Sonu Sood was also questioned for seven hours on September 24 regarding his promotional activities for the betting app.
Asset Seizure Process Underway
ED sources revealed that provisional attachment orders will soon be issued to seize both movable and immovable properties of celebrities involved in promoting 1xBet. These assets include properties located in India and abroad, particularly in countries like the United Arab Emirates. The agency is currently conducting valuation and quantification of these assets before formal attachment proceedings.
After issuing attachment orders, they will be sent to the Adjudicating Authority under PMLA for confirmation, followed by chargesheet filing in designated courts for asset confiscation. The investigation aims to prevent those involved in money laundering from benefiting from proceeds of their criminal activities.
Government Crackdown on Online Betting
The Indian government has intensified its battle against illegal betting platforms following passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which comes into effect October 1. This comprehensive legislation bans all forms of real money online gaming, including fantasy sports platforms like Dream11, with offenders facing up to three years imprisonment and Rs.1 crore fines.
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in Parliament that online money games have affected 450 million Indians, causing losses of Rs.20,000 crore to middle-class families. The World Health Organization has recognized gaming addiction as a disorder, prompting stricter government action.
1xBet Operations and Celebrity Involvement
The Curacao-registered 1xBet platform claims to be a globally recognized bookmaker operating for 18 years across 70 languages. However, the platform has been accused of defrauding people and investors of crores while evading substantial direct and indirect taxes. The ED investigation focuses on understanding how celebrities were contacted for endorsements, payment methods used, and whether they knew online betting was illegal in India.
Additional celebrities expected to be questioned include actress Urvashi Rautela, who was designated as "India ambassador for 1xBet" but failed to appear as she was stated to be abroad. The investigation has also expanded to include online influencers and social media personalities involved in promoting illegal betting platforms.
Wider Impact on Gaming Industry
The government's crackdown has severely impacted India's previously thriving online gaming sector, which employed over 200,000 people and generated nearly $2.3 billion in annual revenue before the ban. Major platforms like Dream11, which previously sponsored the Indian cricket team, and My11Circle have suspended their real money gaming operations.
This represents one of the largest investigations into digital betting scams in Indian history, with the ED implementing "focused strategies" to investigate financial crimes in the online gaming sector. The probe continues as authorities examine the full extent of money laundering activities connected to illegal betting platform promotions.
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