Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation into illegal online betting platforms. The probe focuses on platforms allegedly using surrogate advertisements to collect funds from users.
Dhawan arrived at the ED headquarters around 11 am, where his statement was being recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for endorsing a sports betting app involved in unlawful activities. Last month, the ED had also questioned another cricketer, Suresh Raina, as part of its ongoing scrutiny of celebrity endorsements of betting platforms, their fees, and modes of communication with these apps.
The agency is investigating multiple illegal online betting platforms and has questioned tech firms and media representatives who received advertising money from them. Google and Meta representatives were called for questioning in July as part of this probe.
In 2023, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued four advisories warning newspapers, broadcast channels, online publishers, and social media platforms against advertising online betting platforms. Despite these instructions, prominent personalities in entertainment and sports continued to endorse such apps, attracting ED attention. Officials noted that some banned platforms continue operations under new names, often promoted by celebrities and social media influencers.
“These platforms violate multiple laws, including tax regulations, money laundering rules, and the Foreign Exchange Management Act, as funds are often transferred out of the country illegally. It is estimated that around 220 million Indian users engage with betting apps, with 110 million regular users,” an official said.
Illegal betting websites and apps recorded over 1.6 billion visits in the first three months of 2025 alone, with the market estimated to be worth approximately $100 million. The ED estimates that top apps evade around ₹27,000 crore in taxes annually.
The government has issued 1,524 blocking orders against illegal gambling websites and mobile apps between 2022 and June 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology informed Parliament last month.
