Betting Apps Promotion: FIR Filed Against Rana Daggubati, Vijay Devarakonda, Others

Telangana’s Cyberabad police has reportedly filed a first information report (FIR) against 25 individuals, including Tollywood actors and social media influencers, for allegedly promoting illegal betting, gambling and casino apps.

The FIR names Prakash Raj, Rana Daggubati, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal and Vijay Devarakonda, ET reported.

Daggubati and Raj have been involved in promoting Flutter Entertainment Group-owned Junglee Rummy via pop-up ads, the report said, citing the FIR.

Meanwhile, Praneetha is alleged to have promoted Fairplay Live. Devarakonda allegedly promoted A23 Rummy, while Lakshmi and Agarwal endorsed Yolo247 and Jeet Win, respectively.

It is pertinent to note that the Centre and the state governments have been cracking down on illegal gaming and online betting platforms for the last few years. Earlier this week, IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Parliament that the government ordered digital intermediaries to block 1,298 online gambling websites and apps between 2022 and 2024. 

Last year, the information and broadcasting ministry also asked endorsers and influencers to refrain from promoting or advertising, including surrogate advertisements, of offshore online betting and gambling platforms.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating a number of betting and gambling platforms currently for money laundering. In September, it was reported that the ED discovered a money laundering operation which was being conducted through kirana stores via illegal gaming and betting apps.

Over 100 China-linked betting platforms were also banned by the Centre in 2023.

Betting and gambling are prohibited under the Public Gambling Act, 1867 in the majority of regions in the country. However, states are entrusted with formulating their own laws to oversee gambling.