(Image source from: Theweek.in)

Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh, and Sonu Sood are the latest famous people being looked into for promoting illegal betting apps, and in Uthappa's case, for possibly breaking money-laundering rules. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has called them in for questioning next week. Uthappa will be questioned on Monday, Singh on Tuesday, and Sood on Wednesday. They join other former cricketers like Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, as well as actress Urvashi Rautela and Trinamool MP Mimi Chakraborty, who are also being questioned by the ED. The ED is investigating whether the 1xBet app, which often advertised during live cricket games, was involved in money laundering and tax evasion. The ED is also looking at other betting sites and if celebrities knowingly or unknowingly helped promote schemes that the government says cheated users and investors out of a lot of money. Rautela, who is said to be 1xBet's 'India ambassador', is scheduled to appear today, Tuesday, as is Bengali actor Ankush Hazra. The agency took Chakraborty's statement on Monday.

Last week, Dhawan was questioned for more than eight hours at the ED office in Delhi and left only after giving his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned a former cricket player about promoting 1xBet, asking about his involvement and money matters, such as payments he made or received. In June, another ex-cricketer, Harbhajan Singh, was also interrogated. The ED's investigation is looking into several betting websites, like Junglee Rummy, JeetWin, and Lotus365, and the famous people who advertised them. Actors Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, and Lakshmi Manchu were among those questioned. Sources said that celebrities were generally asked if they knew that betting apps like 1xBet, which often change their names to stay active, are against the law in India. In 2023, the government told media outlets and online platforms not to promote these apps or websites.

The claim is that platforms such as 1xBet, and similar ones like 1xBat, pretend to have games where skill matters. However, they use unfair methods in their programs, turning them into gambling businesses according to Indian laws.

Current investigations show that several laws have been violated, including the Information Technology Act, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, and the PMLA. News companies are also being looked at; sources stated in June that over 50 crore rupees were spent on ads.

In 2023, the government advised against using 1xBet and other betting apps from outside the country. They were blocked in India under Section 69A of the IT Act. But, people can still easily get to them using methods like secret messaging apps and VPNs.

Also, famous people advertising for 1xBet helped people remember it. The app also often changed its name to avoid getting caught. If one version is suspected, it closes down and a slightly different one appears. The people who own and run these platforms are usually in other countries, making it hard for Indian police like the ED or CBI to catch them.

Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and Google are under investigation for promoting betting apps on their platforms in countries that have lenient gambling rules or where it's legal. In July, Indian officials questioned a Google representative, but Meta did not send anyone, though they are reportedly helping with the investigation. The agency is asking if Google and Meta intentionally advertised betting apps and if they made money from these ads.

About 220 million people in India have downloaded these apps or use these websites, and around half bet daily. This market is now worth about Rs 8.3 lakh crore and grows by 30% each year. To address financial losses and mental health problems, the Online Gaming law was passed this year. It focuses on addiction, fraud by game companies, and different gambling laws in different states. It also suggests closer monitoring of gaming platforms, especially those that involve real money, like poker.