New Delhi: Crackdown on Illegal Online Gaming Platforms
In a recent effort to combat illegal online gambling, GST intelligence officers have taken significant action by blocking 357 websites associated with offshore gaming entities. Alongside this, they have attached about 2,400 bank accounts linked to these operations, according to a statement from the finance ministry on Saturday.
The operation was led by the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI), focusing on around 700 offshore entities involved in e-gaming that have been evading GST obligations by not registering and hiding taxable revenues.
Additionally, DGGI targeted a group of Indian nationals who were allegedly running online gaming platforms from abroad. Investigators discovered that these individuals were providing online money gaming services to Indian customers through platforms such as Satguru Online Money Gaming Platform, Mahakaal Online Money Gaming Platform, and Abhi247 Online Money Gaming Platform. They were reportedly using "mule" bank accounts to process customer payments.
So far, DGGI has blocked 166 of these mule accounts and arrested three individuals. The investigation continues, with more arrests likely.
The finance ministry warned that numerous Bollywood stars, cricketers, and influencers on platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram are promoting these gaming sites, urging the public to stay away from such platforms. Engaging with these sites could pose a risk to individual finances and support activities that undermine the nation’s financial integrity and security.
