ED, SIT Probe Betting Apps Routing Funds to China, S’pore

Hyderabad: Using cloud technology, hundreds of illegal betting apps operating in India have routed funds collected from punters to accounts in China and Singapore. Investigators suspect that several hundred crore rupees were transferred abroad through these platforms.

Though the investigation agencies have identified and blocked more than 350 betting apps and online portals which were registered in India, the investigators face a tough time identifying the details of organisers who are operating these illegal apps from abroad.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had earlier frozen funds linked to similar operations, is now tracking past suspects and previous foreign-registered betting apps. In coordination, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is working to establish a standard operating procedure (SOP) to curb the operations of betting apps both within India and abroad.

Sources said the ED had earlier frozen nine bank accounts linked to gaming portals in China and Singapore and discovered that over 100 other accounts were used to route funds from Indian customers. Learning from those investigations, officials are now maintaining close surveillance on betting app organisers and their registration practices overseas.

In recent probes, the ED identified three key suspects involved in transferring crime proceeds through betting portals. However, their business addresses provided during app registration were found to be fake. The ED is also likely to keep track of the previous suspects and organisers to find out the betting apps based abroad.

Similarly, the SIT officials have collected details of cases registered with Telangana police at different places including recently registered cases in Miyapur and Punjagutta. Sources said the SIT is monitoring cases involving India-registered betting and gaming apps and is preparing the SOP to tackle those operated from abroad.

The SIT is also pushing for a structured investigation approach. It has directed investigating officers to verify the specific betting apps used by victims in each case. Officials believe this will help track app activity and provide solid grounds for legal action.

For instance, when Akash, a resident of rural Nizamabad, died by suicide after losing Rs 3 lakh through a betting app on April 1, the local police only registered a suspicious death without booking any case against the app. Similar gaps persist across Telangana, where police have registered cases only for deaths and not against the specific apps responsible.

Fact Box: Betting App Investigations

A few years ago, ED Hyderabad raided multiple firms for irregularities in betting and gaming app operations.

The agency suspects hundreds of crores of rupees were transferred to China and Singapore from Indian victims.

Six firms and three key players were identified, but all listed fake addresses during app registration.

TGCSB blocked 108 illegal betting websites.

133 India-based betting apps were served notices to restrict access in Telangana.

SIT is working on rules to curb foreign-based betting apps through geo-fencing and stricter digital surveillance.