India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against Magicwin, an online betting platform operated by Pakistani nationals residing in the United Arab Emirates. The filing named 14 individuals and entities in a money laundering case linked to the platform and its associated operations.
Legal Filing and Complaint History
The ED stated that the prosecution complaint, which is equivalent to a chargesheet, was submitted on January 15 before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The matter stemmed from a cyber crime police FIR in Ahmedabad that accused the portal of unauthorised hosting, streaming, and broadcasting related to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Broadcasting rights for the tournament had been granted by the International Cricket Council to Star India Private Limited.
Investigators determined that the Magicwin brand portal is owned by Magicwin Sports Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom. Pakistani nationals Gulab Harji Mal and Omesh Kumar Gurnani are listed as directors of the company and both individuals are based in the UAE, according to the ED. The agency added that the platform and its mobile application functioned as a betting exchange that offered sports betting and leisure gambling, with transactions routed through mule accounts.
During the course of the investigation, officials reviewed the platform’s activity across a range of sports. Magicwin allegedly facilitated betting on cricket, tennis, football, and horse racing. The website also provided live match streaming and real-time scorecards for users placing bets. According to the Times of India, investigators reported the presence of marketing campaigns involving celebrities and social media influencers who had promoted Magicwin to online audiences.
The ED stated that funds generated from the betting operations were routed through hawala channels and cryptocurrencies. According to officials, the operational setup supported both online sports markets and live casino-style games. Magicwin purportedly provided access to Baccarat, Teen Patti, Roulette, Andar-Bahar, Poker, Blackjack and other games conducted by live dealers instead of bots.
Regulatory Environment Shifts in 2025
The chargesheet arrived several months after India moved to restrict real-money gaming and betting activities. In October 2025, the government banned real-money online gaming and betting, describing it as a “financial and social menace” that “drains the hard-earned money of users, especially the youth.” The ban marked a significant intervention in the country’s online gambling landscape, which had expanded rapidly through offshore and remote digital operators.
The investigation highlighted that the platform’s directors were based outside India and that corporate registration occurred in the United Kingdom. Officials noted that Magicwin Sports Limited maintained a structure designed to support digital betting transactions across borders. The case also included allegations that mule accounts were used to move proceeds from online users into informal settlement channels.
With the chargesheet filed, legal proceedings will move forward through the PMLA court system. The filing marked a formal step in the case following the earlier police complaint and subsequent financial investigation. The ED’s statements indicated that further scrutiny of promotional networks, payment routing, and cross-border financial movements may continue as part of ongoing enforcement activity.
