Pakistani YouTuber Ducky Bhai denied bail in gambling app promotion case
A judge in Pakistan has denied bail for YouTuber Saadur Rehman, known as Ducky Bhai, in a case involving the alleged promotion of gambling apps on social media.
The case, registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, accuses Rehman of promoting the gambling app Binomo and profiting from it.
His counsel argued the case was “false and frivolous,” pointing out that the app was not banned at the time of the alleged promotion and that no minors or other individuals were shown to have suffered financial loss.
The defence further claimed there was no proof that payments were made to Rehman concerning the promotion.
However, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency prosecutor Zaina Zaheer opposed bail, stating that Rehman’s actions influenced a large number of people, particularly minors.
Zaheer told the court that two mobile phones and a laptop seized from the suspect contained relevant data confirming his involvement, as did US$326,420 seized from his bank account.
Magistrate Naeem Wattoo, while dismissing the bail plea, noted that Rehman had not denied promoting gambling applications. He said the large sum of money recovered suggested it was linked to the activity.
The magistrate further observed that social media influencers must exercise caution, warning that their endorsements cannot be taken lightly.
Earlier this month, another Pakistani YouTuber, Rajab Butt, was questioned by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over similar allegations in connection to promotions for online gambling and trading applications.
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The Backstory
Pakistan’s escalating test case
Pakistan’s cybercrime investigators have turned a high-profile bail fight into a broader warning for digital creators. A magistrate in Lahore denied bail to YouTuber Saadur Rehman, known as Ducky Bhai, in a case alleging promotion of gambling apps and profit from those endorsements. The ruling underscored prosecutors’ claims that seized devices and funds tied the influencer to the activity. The decision, detailed in reporting on Ducky Bhai’s denied bail, positions the matter as a test of how far liability can extend when creators amplify unregulated betting products to large youth audiences.
The scrutiny is not isolated. Authorities recently summoned another prominent creator, Rajab Butt, for questioning on accusations he encouraged investments in unregistered platforms and helped run what officials called an orchestrated scheme. The inquiry into Rajab Butt’s alleged promotions followed the arrest of Ducky Bhai and came as the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency named 46 apps illegal after finding they offered unregulated gambling. The sequence signals a deliberate escalation: investigators are pressing both financial and content angles while testing whether paid posts and affiliate links constitute inducement under existing laws.
A regional pattern of paid promotions
Neighboring India is a step ahead on enforcement and shows how quickly creator-led advertising can translate into legal peril. Police in Rajkot arrested two influencers accused of promoting gambling via Instagram, alleging they earned per-post fees and commissions on sign-ups tracked through profile links. Officials said preliminary findings showed hundreds of thousands of rupees in proceeds flowing to the pair, as described in coverage of the Rajkot influencer arrests. The case illustrates how performance marketing models adapted to social media — reels, coupon codes, referral links — map cleanly onto classic gaming inducement structures.
Investigators have also moved up the celebrity chain. Former MP and actor Mimi Chakraborty appeared before the Enforcement Directorate over alleged ties to betting operator 1xBet, with questions centered on endorsements and financial links. Other prominent figures, including a film star and former national cricketers, have been queried as part of a widening federal probe. The inquiry into the 1xBet endorsements shows the convergence of financial crime, tax evasion concerns and consumer harm when high-reach personalities validate illegal operators. India’s recent moves to ban large numbers of igaming platforms followed estimates of mass consumer losses, adding political urgency to enforcement.
Regulators push back worldwide
The compliance risk is no longer confined to South Asia. Australia’s media regulator has threatened fines as high as AU$59,400 for influencers who publicize illegal offshore gambling. After several accounts promoted Leon Australia — an unlicensed site later blocked at the regulator’s request — the authority warned creators they are on notice. That stance is captured in reporting on ACMA’s warning to Australian influencers and echoed in the regulator’s formal advisory that promoting illegal gambling breaks the law. Local media also charted how ads for unlicensed operators seeped into mainstream channels before being blocked, as noted by coverage of inadvertent promotions.
In the United States, the regulatory fight is unfolding through courts and statehouses. A bipartisan group of 36 attorneys general asked a federal appeals court to curtail prediction market platform Kalshi, arguing it functions as unregulated gambling when it lets users wager on events. The coalition’s push, summarized in a report on the state AGs’ brief against Kalshi, mirrors an Ohio-led public statement that states must retain authority to police online betting. The legal backdrop is fluid: a New Jersey federal court sided with Kalshi in April, but the appeal seeks reversal, as examined in a case analysis. The outcome will shape how platforms present speculative trading to consumers and how creators can legally advertise such products across jurisdictions.
The stakes for creators, platforms and consumers
The Pakistan cases show how authorities are linking promotional content to real-world harm and potential financial crimes. Prosecutors highlighted minors’ exposure and flagged sizable funds allegedly tied to the activity in Ducky Bhai’s case, emphasizing that endorsements can carry liability even when apps sit in legal gray zones. India’s arrests demonstrate the traceability of influencer payouts and referral mechanics, which can convert lifestyle content into inducements under gambling laws. Australia’s fines set a clear expectation: creators must vet the licensing status of operators before posting. The U.S. litigation signals that labels like prediction markets will face scrutiny if consumer risk resembles wagering.
For platforms and agencies, the through line is compliance. Brand deals involving gaming, trading or prediction products require due diligence across licensing, geo-restrictions and disclosure. Affiliate programs that pay per registration or bet are drawing special attention from regulators who view them as classic inducement schemes. For consumers, the risk is amplified by the credibility conferred when trusted voices promote products that may be illegal or unregulated in their jurisdiction. The Pakistani investigations, paired with India’s enforcement, Australia’s penalties and the U.S. court fight, suggest a tougher global regime in which intent matters less than effect — and where a post can be the entry point to prosecution.
