The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth ₹18.10 crore in connection with the illegal online betting platform 1xBet, taking the total value of properties seized in the case to ₹37.23 crore so far. The action is part of an ongoing probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) into alleged unauthorised betting operations in India.
Mirror Sites and UPI Money Trail
According to the central agency, investigations revealed that 1xBet was operating in the country without mandatory authorisation and was promoting online betting and gambling activities through a network of mirror websites. These websites allegedly enabled users to place bets while masking the origin and beneficiaries of the transactions.
Officials said the platform adopted a concealed mechanism to collect funds from Indian users. Payments were allegedly routed through dynamically generated Unified Payments Interface (UPI) IDs that were linked to mule bank accounts. This layered structure, investigators claim, was designed to disguise the actual beneficiaries and obscure the trail of proceeds generated from betting activities.
CREX Advertising Network Exposed
The agency stated that the complex financial routing amounted to laundering of proceeds of crime. By using temporary UPI IDs and bank accounts opened in the names of third parties, the operators allegedly ensured that the money trail remained fragmented and difficult to trace.
The probe has also widened to include entities accused of facilitating promotion of the betting platform. The ED said Parthtech Developers LLP, which runs high-traffic cricket information platforms CREX and OneCricket, entered into structured advertisement agreements with Bwise Media AG, Switzerland, for promoting betting websites including 1xBet.
Celebrity Endorsement Assets Seized
Statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA indicated that advertisements of 1xBet were directly booked and geo-targeted for Indian users. These advertisements were allegedly executed on the CREX platform using an in-house advertisement server known as “Parth Adex.” Investigators are examining whether due diligence norms were followed before such promotional content was allowed.
The attachment of ₹18.10 crore includes movable and immovable properties believed to be linked to the proceeds generated from the betting operations. Officials indicated that further attachments may follow as the financial trail continues to be examined.
Yuvraj Singh, Dhawan Among Named
The 1xBet case has drawn attention in recent months due to the involvement of several well-known personalities in promotional campaigns linked to the platform. Last year, the ED provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth ₹7.93 crore belonging to several celebrities, including former cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, as well as actors Urvashi Rautela, Sonu Sood, Mimi Chakraborty, Ankush Hazra and Neha Sharma.
Earlier in the probe, assets worth ₹11.14 crore linked to Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina had also been attached. The agency is examining whether endorsement agreements or promotional appearances were connected to proceeds derived from illegal betting activities.
Illegal Betting Crackdown Continues
Investigators maintain that operating or promoting unauthorised betting platforms violates Indian laws, particularly when financial transactions are structured to bypass regulatory oversight. The ED has reiterated that online betting and gambling platforms without proper authorisation cannot solicit or accept funds from Indian users.
The crackdown comes amid increasing scrutiny of offshore betting apps that use aggressive digital marketing and sports-related content to attract Indian audiences. Authorities have expressed concern over the scale of transactions routed through digital payment systems and the risks posed to unsuspecting users.
With total attachments in the 1xBet case now crossing ₹37 crore, officials signalled that the investigation remains active. Further examination of digital evidence, financial records and contractual arrangements is underway to determine the full extent of the alleged money laundering network.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
