India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally summoned tech giants Google and Meta (parent company of Facebook) to question their top executives about illegal online gambling and money laundering activities. This action is part of a large-scale investigation into underground gambling networks in India, directly targeting the role of tech platforms in suspicious advertising placements.
According to informed sources, the Enforcement Directorate is concerned whether Google and Meta have indirectly facilitated illegal capital flows by selling advertising spaces to unauthorized gambling apps. Investigators have requested the companies to submit records related to their advertising review policies, gambling advertisement placement processes, and customer due diligence. The Enforcement Directorate specifically emphasized the need to determine whether these tech platforms have overlooked India's strict ban on gambling advertisements driven by commercial interests.
One focus of the case is the notorious Mahadev gambling platform, which has been accused of manipulating massive illegal bets through a complex network of agents and is suspected of laundering billions of rupees. It is alleged that the funding behind it even involves political figures, including former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, who is rumored to have received up to 5 billion rupees (about 58 million USD), although he has firmly denied this.
Meanwhile, the Fairplay App has also become another focus of the Enforcement Directorate's investigation. This platform is accused of illegally broadcasting IPL (Indian Premier League) matches and providing unlicensed gambling services, severely infringing on the commercial interests of the official broadcaster Viacom18. According to the investigation, Fairplay's rapid popularity is partly due to its strategy of using celebrity endorsements and social media promotions.
In addition to tech companies and gambling platforms, the Enforcement Directorate has also targeted several public figures. So far, 29 Bollywood actors and internet celebrities have been implicated, suspected of using their influence to "whitewash" illegal gambling apps and profiting from them. Investigators are looking into whether these collaborations violate advertising regulations, and whether there are financial fraud, money laundering, or tax evasion activities.
It is worth noting that since 2022, India has banned any form of gambling advertising. Nevertheless, many gambling platforms still circumvent regulations by packaging their services as "skill games," "sports betting," or "virtual competitions," playing on the edges of the law.
As the investigation continues, the Indian government's summons to Google and Meta undoubtedly sends a strong signal: no matter how large the platform, if it is involved with illegal gambling, it will be held accountable. The advertising ecosystem of tech platforms will face stricter scrutiny, and the gray area of celebrity-endorsed gambling may also face a reckoning.
