ED’s Big Move...Google & Meta Dragged Into India’s Online Betting Scam

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a major crackdown on illegal online betting, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued notices to tech giants Google and Meta for allegedly promoting and providing prime ad space to betting apps on their digital platforms.

Sources confirm that ED has summoned representatives of both companies for questioning on July 21. This marks the first time in India that major tech firms have been held directly accountable in a case linked to online betting.

The ED claims that several apps posing as “skill-based games” were actually fronts for illegal gambling, generating crores of black money which was later routed through hawala networks.

The investigation has also pulled several celebrities and influencers into the spotlight. Notable names like Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, and Vijay Deverakonda are under ED’s radar for allegedly endorsing these betting apps in exchange for hefty payouts. This move is seen as a major clampdown on digital and entertainment sectors enabling unlawful activities under the guise of gaming promotions.