The 43-year-old all-rounder, known for his explosive batting and cancer survival story, arrived at the ED's Delhi office around noon. Officials recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focusing on his association with the platform.
Sources reveal the ED is scrutinizing whether celebrities like Yuvraj knew that online betting is illegal in India. The agency demanded copies of contracts, emails, and documents related to 1xBet endorsements. Investigators are also probing if endorsement fees qualify as "proceeds of crime" under PMLA. Alongside Yuvraj, influencer Anveshi Jain was questioned in the same case.
This summons adds Yuvraj to a growing list of prominent figures under the scanner. Fellow ex-cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and Robin Uthappa have already faced ED grilling. Actors including former TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty, Bengali star Ankush Hazra, and Sonu Sood (scheduled for Wednesday) are also involved. The probe stems from allegations that 1xBet duped users of crores through betting scams, evading taxes, and laundering funds.
1xBet, a Curacao-registered bookmaker with 18 years in the industry, claims global operations in 70 languages. However, India's recent crackdown on real-money gaming, via the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 (effective August 22), has intensified scrutiny. The government banned platforms like Dream11 and issued 1,524 blocking orders since 2022.
Market estimates pegged India's online betting sector at over USD 100 billion, growing 30% annually, with 22 crore users—half regulars. ED's nationwide strategy targets financial crimes in this space, following a senior officers' meeting in Jammu and Kashmir.
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