The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is intensifying its investigation into the nexus between Indian celebrities and offshore betting platforms, an industry thriving despite strict prohibitions in India.
This week, actors Urfi Javed and Mimi Chakraborty were summoned in connection with alleged money laundering tied to betting app promotions. Earlier, cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and Irfan Pathan were also questioned. Investigators say endorsements and social media campaigns by stars helped funnel lakhs of users into foreign platforms.
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A Parallel Market Worth Billions
Authorities estimate India’s betting market touched between ₹40,000 crore and ₹50,000 crore in 2023, despite its illegality. More than 22 crore Indians downloaded such apps, with around 11 crore playing regularly. In just the first quarter of 2025, illegal betting platforms saw over 150 crore visits.
To skirt restrictions, these apps operate servers overseas while using celebrity-led campaigns to attract new users. ED officials allege around ₹200 crore was spent on endorsements involving prominent names such as Ranbir Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Shraddha Kapoor, and Huma Qureshi.
Trigger Event: The Dubai Connection
The current crackdown was spurred by a high-profile wedding in Dubai in 2023, where the promoter of the Mahadev Betting App was spotted with Bollywood stars. That gathering exposed the scale of celebrity involvement, pushing enforcement agencies to widen their probe.
Addiction and Social Fallout
Beyond financial crimes, authorities point to gambling’s toll on society. Telangana alone has recorded over 1,000 suicides linked to betting addiction in recent years. Officials warn that digital gambling platforms pose risks far beyond monetary losses, feeding psychological dependence among young users.
Expert Insight: A Digital Forensics Battle
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Professor Triveni Singh stressed that enforcement must evolve with technology. “Celebrity endorsements create a false legitimacy for illegal apps. Traditional raids won’t work — agencies need advanced blockchain tracing and global cooperation to disrupt these networks,” he said.
The Road Ahead
While ED has frozen accounts and seized assets, investigators caution that unless laws are updated and international collaboration deepens, betting apps will continue to reinvent themselves — sustaining what one official called “a parallel digital economy bleeding India of both money and social trust.”