Former Indian international cricketer appears in front of the Enforcement Directorate regarding 1xBet investigation

Abi Bray

23 September 2025 at 7:08am UTC-4

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Former Indian international cricketer Yuvraj Singh appeared in front of India’s Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday in relation to a money laundering case involving online betting platform 1xBet.

The New Indian Express reports that the investigation concerns money laundering, tax evasion, and defrauding the Indian public of considerable sums of money.

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As part of the investigation, those involved are also being questioned about whether they knew online gaming and betting were illegal.

The Enforcement Directorate is investigating those who are said to have endorsed the app, looking into how they were contacted and how they received payment.

Those questioned are expected to submit copies of emails and their contracts to the court. The agency will also investigate how the payment was used to see if it can be categorized as “proceeds of crime.”

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Singh is not the first to be questioned. The Enforcement Directorate has previously questioned influencer Anveshi Jain and other former cricketers, including Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, and Robin Uthappa, about the case.

Last month, India banned nearly all igaming platforms after discovering that 450 million people lose US$2.3 billion to gaming annually.

Abi Bray brings strong researching skills to the forefront of all of her writing, whether it’s the newest slots, industry trends or the ever changing legislation across the U.S, Asia and Australia, she maintains a keen eye for detail and a passion for reporting.

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The Backstory

Inside India’s widening 1xBet probe and the high-stakes crackdown reshaping online betting

Endorsements become evidence

The Enforcement Directorate’s questioning of high-profile figures has turned the 1xBet money laundering inquiry into a broader test of how India polices online betting and influencer marketing. The latest turn came as former cricketer Yuvraj Singh appeared before investigators in connection with alleged laundering, tax evasion and defrauding of the public tied to the offshore platform. An earlier account detailed his deposition and the agency’s focus on whether endorsers knew online betting was illegal, how they were approached and how they were paid, including demands to submit emails and contracts as part of the probe documented here. The New Indian Express also reported the agency recorded Singh’s statement in the case, underscoring the investigation’s momentum and the scrutiny on celebrity partnerships with betting brands in this update.

Singh is among a slate of athletes and entertainers drawn into questioning as the agency maps 1xBet’s marketing funnel and alleged financial flows. Influencer Anveshi Jain and former cricketers Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Robin Uthappa are among those who have been examined. The roster reflects how offshore betting operators embedded themselves in India’s attention economy, leveraging sports fandom to drive traffic to apps that regulators say operate outside the law.

The probe has expanded beyond cricket to film and political figures. Former MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty was questioned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act about links to 1xBet, and actor Urvashi Rautela, an ambassador for the brand, was called to depose as well. Those moves signaled a standardized approach to endorsement-related due diligence across entertainment sectors, as detailed in this account of Chakraborty’s examination.

From consumer harm to policy hardening

The enforcement push tracks with a policy pivot after regulators and courts were pressed to respond to losses and addiction tied to illegal platforms. Authorities highlighted an estimate that roughly 450 million Indians collectively lose billions each year to online gambling. That statistic has been cited to justify sweeping curbs on igaming apps, with the government moving to remove large numbers of platforms from the market, a shift referenced in coverage of both Singh’s deposition and Chakraborty’s questioning.

Independent research has added urgency. A report from Consumer Unity & Trust Society found illegal gambling sites attracted more than 5.4 billion visits in the year through March and process nearly $100 billion in annual deposits. The group said operators exploit advertising and payments loopholes and evade age checks, with youth disproportionately exposed through direct links and private channels. The findings have fed calls for a national regulatory framework and public awareness campaigns, a risk landscape outlined in this report.

These data points have informed federal and state actions that increasingly treat celebrity marketing as part of the compliance chain. Investigators are probing whether promotional fees constitute proceeds of crime if sourced from illegal operations, a line of inquiry that complicates endorsement income and could reshape brand deals, agency roles and platform policies around advertising vetting.

States step in as police follow the money

State governments and police forces are layering on enforcement. In Telangana, the chief minister proposed amending the state’s anti-igaming law and creating a Special Investigation Team after acknowledging a 2017 ban had not curbed the surge in online betting. The plan includes tougher sentences and penalties for promoters, including social media influencers, signaling that state-level tools will supplement federal cases as described here.

On the ground, police are targeting the betting infrastructure that springs up around marquee sporting events. Goa police recently made 45 arrests in coordinated raids tied to Indian Premier League wagering, seizing laptops and phones used by agents who allegedly placed bets via illegal international sites from hotel rooms. Authorities said the activity remains widespread despite periodic crackdowns, underlining the scale and mobility of the networks detailed in this report.

These actions point to a two-track strategy: federal agencies follow financial trails and endorsements across borders, while state units push localized disruption against agents and tech infrastructure. The coordination will be tested as betting outfits adapt and route payments through new intermediaries or wallets.

Cricket’s marketing crossroads

The investigation lands during a broader reassessment of how sports properties and former players monetize influence. While sponsors have raced into India’s gaming boom, not all products sit in a compliance gray zone. Earlier this year, Suresh Raina agreed to promote Aviator, a crash game from developer Spribe available on thousands of casino platforms worldwide. The company touted his star power for global campaigns, illustrating how athletes remain central to gamified marketing, as covered in this announcement.

The 1xBet inquiry separates lawful gaming tie-ups from alleged illegal betting operations and forces a due diligence standard that agents and endorsers will need to meet. Contracts, compliance attestations and payment trails are moving from back-office files into evidence folders. As investigators record more statements, including Singh’s, the outcomes could set precedents for endorsement liability, platform takedowns and ad-tech guardrails that shape how India’s sports economy engages with gaming for years.