Archive · 17 Jun 2025
ED Probes Celebrities for Promoting Illegal Betting Apps
The police are looking into betting apps that are illegal in India, and they are questioning famous people like cricketers and actors who promoted them.
These apps use fake names to trick people into using the real betting sites.
The police think the apps are breaking the law, including laws about money laundering.
The apps made a lot of money, and the government is trying to stop them.
This follows similar investigations in other states, as these apps have caused significant financial damage to many individuals.
ED is investigating celebrities endorsing illegal betting apps like 1xBet.
Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Urvashi Rautela, and Sonu Sood are being questioned.
Platforms allegedly used surrogate entities to redirect users to banned sites.
The ED suspects violations of the IT Act, FEMA, and PMLA.
The illegal online betting market in India is estimated at over $100 billion.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate, celebrities like Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and promoters of betting apps.
- What
- The Enforcement Directorate is investigating illegal betting apps and celebrity endorsements.
- When
- The investigation is ongoing.
- Where
- India, with links to Dubai.
- Why
- To investigate potential violations of laws and combat illegal betting activities.
Celebrities/App Promoters
Law Enforcement
Legality of Endorsements
Celebrities/App Promoters
Some actors claimed their endorsements were legal at the time and were confined to jurisdictions where online skill-based games were permitted.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement views this as a violation of various laws and promotion of illegal activities.
- Platforms Under Scrutiny
- 1xBet, 1xBat, Fairplay
- Laws Potentially Violated
- IT Act, FEMA, PMLA
- Celebrities Questioned
- Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood
- Estimated Market Value
- $100 billion
