ED Freezes INR 523 Cr Assets Linked To WinZO, Gameskraft & Pocket52

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its action on real-money gaming platforms.

The agency has frozen assets to the tune of INR 523 Cr linked to WinZO, Pocket52 parent Nirdesa Networks and Gameskraft over allegations of cheating, manipulation, and money-laundering activities.

This comes a week after the ED’s Bengaluru unit carried out searches across Delhi and Gurugram in a case linked to WinZO Games. The agency froze about INR 505 Cr in bank balances, bonds, FDs and mutual funds linked to the company under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

As per ED, the case began after several FIRs were filed, which accused the company of cheating, blocking user accounts, impersonation, and misuse of PAN details. Complaints also allege that customer KYCs were misused and users suffered losses due to fraud.

According to the ED, WinZO also continued running real-money games in countries such as the US, Brazil and Germany using its Indian platform despite a ban on online RMG in the country post August 2025. The agency also said that the company held on to INR 43 Cr that should have been refunded to players.

The agency also claims that WinZO allowed users to play against algorithms instead of real players without proper disclosure, limited customer withdrawals, and diverted funds overseas. About $55 Mn (INR 489.9 Cr) was found parked in the US under a shell entity, WinZO US Inc., despite operations being controlled from India, officials said.

“We have been cooperating fully with the investigating agency and will continue to support the process. Fairness and transparency are core to how WinZO designs and operates its platform. Our focus remains on protecting our users and ensuring a secure, trustworthy experience. WinZO remains fully compliant with all applicable laws,” the company said in a statement.

Pocket52, Gameskraft Also Under ED Scanner

In a parallel investigation, the ED, between November 18 and 22, also searched offices and residences linked to Pocket52 parent Nirdesa Networks and rival Gameskraft Technologies in Bengaluru and Gurugram. These searches were also conducted under PMLA.

The probe stems from an FIR alleging large-scale fraud on the Pocket52 platform, including manipulated game outcomes, withdrawal restrictions and removal of features like hand history. One complainant reportedly claims to have lost over INR 3 Cr to the suspected rigging.

Separately, during the searches, the ED seized mobile phones, laptops and backed up company data belonging to Gameskraft. The agency said that the platform held over INR 30 Cr in escrow accounts even after the nationwide ban under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, enacted on 22 August 2025.

Eight escrow accounts holding around INR 18.57 Cr belonging to various entities have also been frozen as suspected proceeds of crime

This comes as the August 2025 law banned online real money gaming in the country and barred financial institutions from catering to these platforms. The ban has since triggered widespread layoffs and shutdowns across the online gaming sector.

Gameskraft, operator of apps such as RummyCulture, Pocket52 and Ludo Culture, has laid off more than 400 employees following the ban. WinZO, which operates over 100 games across India, the US and Brazil, announced global expansion plans and also entered short video through ZO TV. 

Other major platforms have scaled down sharply, with Games24x7 cutting about 500 roles and MPL reducing around 60% of its workforce.