Former India Cricketer Suresh Raina Questioned by ED in Connection with Illegal Online Betting App Case

On Wednesdаy, former Indian cricketer Suresh Rаina was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to an illegal online betting app. Raina, 38, was spotted chatting with CISF and ED staff outside the agency's office in central Delhi before arriving to mark his attendance around 11 am. The ED recorded his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of its investigation into the sports betting app 1xBet.

It’s understood that Raina’s connection to the app might be through some endorsements. The ED is looking into his ties with the app, the endorsement fees he might have earned and how he communicated with the app’s representatives, according to sources.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had recently called representatives from Google and Meta for questioning as part of its ongoing probe into illegal online betting apps. The agency also carried out multi-state searches on Tuesday in connection with a similar investigation involving the Parimatch app. The ED is investigating several such cases where illegal betting apps are accused of defrauding people and investors of crores of rupees and evading significant tax payments. Market analysis firms and probe agencies estimate that around 22 crore Indians use various online betting apps, with half of them, or about 11 crore, being regular users.

Government Cracks Down on Unregistered Betting Platforms: 1,524 Orders Issued

The online betting app market in India is valued at over USD 100 billion and is growing at a rate of 30 percent, according to experts. Last month, the government informed Parliament that it had issued 1,524 orders between 2022 and June 2025 to block online betting and gambling platforms. Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGSTI) is authorized under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) and the IGST Act to instruct intermediaries to block unregistered online money gaming platforms, including offshore ones, that violate the IGST Act.

Jitin Prasada added that suppliers of online money gaming are also regulated under the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (IGST Act). He explained that, according to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, "Betting and gambling" falls under State jurisdiction (entry 34 of List II). Therefore, as per Article 246 and Article 162, State Legislatures have the authority to make laws concerning betting and gambling. 

The minister further noted that stаtes and union territories are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of crimes relаted to illegal betting and gambling. The Central Government, he sаid, supports these efforts through advisories and financial assistance aimed at building the cаpacity of law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

Raina isn't the only celebrity under investigation. Other prominent actors like Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, аnd Lakshmi Manchu have аlso been questioned over their ties to online betting platforms. Recently, ED teams raided 15 locations across several cities, including Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad, in connection with a probe into the ‘Parimatch’ betting racket. 

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