The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating a betting app, Magicwin, revealing a previously unknown Pakistani connection in its ownership. The ED’s investigation uncovered money laundering from India to Pakistan via Dubai. Numerous Bollywood and television actors promoted Magicwin on social media; Mallika Sherawat and Pooja Banerjee have already been questioned, with more celebrity summons planned. While the app disguises itself as a gaming site, it’s operated by Indian nationals based in Dubai, using game APIs from other sources and operating in countries where betting is legal (like the Philippines). Over the past six months, the ED conducted 67 raids nationwide, recently seizing ₹3.55 crore during raids in Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune following an Ahmedabad police FIR. The app used shell companies and payment gateways to transfer winnings to bettors’ accounts and also used domestic money transfer (DMT) methods.
