New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has widened its investigation into illegal online betting operations, focusing now on celebrity endorsements that allegedly promoted banned platforms such as 1xBet under surrogate brand names.

According to sources quoted by NDTV Profit, cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and Yuvraj Singh, along with Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela, have been questioned for their involvement in promotional campaigns linked to these betting platforms.

The investigation reveals that 1xBet and similar companies have been operating through surrogate websites and brands like "1xbat" to circumvent Indian laws. These ad campaigns reportedly included QR codes and web links that redirected users to the original illegal platforms, under the guise of promoting skill-based games.

However, the ED has found that these platforms allegedly used manipulated algorithms, turning what appeared to be skill-based gaming into gambling operations, making them subject to existing anti-gambling laws in India.

By leveraging high-profile endorsements, these platforms gained massive visibility, the agency noted.

Preliminary findings suggest possible violations of multiple laws, including the Information Technology (IT) Act, the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED is also examining whether these campaigns contravened government notifications banning the advertisement and promotion of online betting services.

The investigation is ongoing, and the agency is expected to summon more people involved in the promotion and financial operations of these platforms in the coming weeks.