Meta, Google Face Investigation for Hosting Betting App Ads

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reissued summons to senior executives of Google and Meta after both companies failed to respond to earlier requests for questioning in connection with a money laundering investigation into digital advertisements promoting illegal betting platforms. The officials are now required to appear on July 28, according to sources cited by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The case, first reported by The Times of India, involves an extensive probe into how unauthorized gambling platforms were allowed to run paid promotions on major tech platforms. The ED is seeking answers from the digital giants on whether adequate due diligence was followed before allowing such content to be advertised and monetized.

According to officials, the companies requested additional time to gather documentation, including internal advertising policies and compliance records. Once present, their statements will be recorded under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Expanding Investigation

The ED’s investigation is not limited to ad placement practices. Authorities are looking into a wider ecosystem of illegal online betting operations, including the use of fake accounts and digital wallets to launder funds. Officials allege that several betting websites misled users through flashy ad campaigns, only to defraud them and reroute the proceeds through complex financial channels. Possible tax evasion is also under review.

The crackdown is linked to the ongoing probe into the Mahadev Online Book app—a betting platform reportedly run from Chhattisgarh—which has emerged as a focal point in multiple cases of financial irregularity.

At least a dozen related investigations are currently underway, with law enforcement tracking both the flow of funds and the digital trail left by the platforms and their promoters.

The investigation has also widened to include more than two dozen Indian celebrities who allegedly promoted or endorsed these platforms. Actors Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Rana Daggubati are among those likely to be questioned in the coming weeks. Authorities are examining whether these endorsements violated advertising and financial laws, especially in cases where public figures lent credibility to unregulated gambling services.

The agency is examining how illegal betting and gambling platforms were able to promote themselves through digital advertisements on major tech platforms.

Broader Implications

The ED’s move to hold both advertisers and platforms accountable highlights growing regulatory concern over the role of digital infrastructure in facilitating financial crime. While betting and gambling remain largely restricted or illegal under Indian law, loopholes in digital advertising have allowed such operations to reach a wide audience—raising questions about corporate responsibility, platform governance, and the limits of existing law enforcement mechanisms in the digital age.

The latest summons mark an escalation in a case that could have lasting implications for how digital platforms manage paid content, especially in sectors prone to misuse. As investigations continue, the tech and entertainment industries may face increased scrutiny over their roles in an expanding web of illegal online betting.