India Cracks Down on 1x Bet Betting Platform
Key Takeaways:
- Enforcement Directorate attaches ₹307 crore in assets linked to illegal online betting operations.
- Actor Sonu Sood summoned for questioning over alleged money laundering ties to 1x Bet.
- Probe highlights risks of unauthorized platforms evading local regulations.
India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated its crackdown on illegal online betting, attaching assets worth ₹307.16 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with the 1xBet platform. The move targets an unauthorized operation accused of facilitating illicit gambling and unauthorized broadcasting, marking a significant blow to offshore betting networks operating worldwide and in the Indian country.
The investigation, ongoing since early 2025, centers on 1x Bet's activities, which allegedly laundered funds through layered transactions involving shell entities and hawala networks. Authorities claim the platform, popular for sports wagering, bypassed India's strict gambling laws by routing bets via international servers while targeting domestic users. This latest attachment includes bank accounts, immovable properties, and cryptocurrency holdings traced to promoters and associates, freezing their ability to access or transfer funds.
In a related development, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood appeared at the ED's Mumbai office on September 24 for interrogation. Sood, summoned as a witness, faces questions over his purported sports betting bonuses and promotional links to 1x Bet, though he denies any involvement in operations. Sources indicate his endorsement may have inadvertently boosted the platform's visibility among Indian audiences, drawing scrutiny amid the probe. The ED's summons underscores the agency's focus on high-profile figures potentially aiding such platforms' reach.
This action follows a series of raids in 2024 that uncovered ₹6,900 crore in suspected proceeds from illegal betting during major cricket betting events. India's regulatory landscape, governed by the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and state-specific laws, remains fragmented, with only skill-based games like horse racing and lotteries explicitly permitted in select regions. The federal probe aims to dismantle cross-border networks, but experts warn that without unified national legislation, offshore sites will continue exploiting loopholes.
The iGaming sector in India, valued at over $3 billion annually, grapples with enforcement challenges. While legitimate sports betting operators like Dream11 thrive under skill-game exemptions, unauthorized platforms, erode tax revenues and expose users to fraud risks. The ED's efforts align with broader government initiatives, including the proposed Online Gaming Rules under the IT Act, which seek to mandate licensing and KYC compliance for all digital wagering.
Stakeholders, including the All India Gaming Federation, applaud the asset freeze as a deterrent but call for accelerated reforms. "This is a wake-up call for the industry to prioritize compliance," said a federation spokesperson. "Without robust digital borders, illicit operators will persist, undermining legitimate growth."
The probe's outcome could set precedents for future cases, potentially leading to extraditions if international ties are confirmed. As India eyes a regulated iGaming framework by 2026, this enforcement signals a zero-tolerance stance on money laundering in betting, aiming to safeguard consumers and bolster fiscal integrity.
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