NEW DELHI – India’s financial crime agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has summoned top executives from Google and Meta for questioning on Monday, as part of an ongoing probe into alleged money laundering linked to online betting platforms, government sources revealed on Saturday.
The ED is investigating whether the two tech giants enabled betting apps to expand their reach by allowing promotional ads, despite a government advisory prohibiting the advertisement of any form of betting. The executives are expected to appear at the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi on July 21.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Google and Meta are accused of receiving payments from betting platforms and facilitating their promotion through digital advertisements. The ED will also examine whether the companies supported other similar platforms that may have violated Indian laws.
“Despite clear government warnings, these platforms allegedly allowed illegal betting services to advertise, indirectly promoting unlawful activities,” one of the officials said, requesting anonymity.
Google and Meta have yet to comment on the allegations.
India’s information and broadcasting ministry has repeatedly warned against the promotion of gambling and betting, calling them a serious financial and social risk—particularly for youth and children. In a 2022 advisory, the ministry explicitly discouraged both online and offline betting ads, citing public interest concerns.
The investigation highlights growing scrutiny of global tech companies in India as regulators tighten oversight on digital platforms operating in sensitive sectors.
