ED Seizes Rs 2.25 Crore Cash and Foreign Currency in Major Crackdown on Goa Casino Operations

New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday announced the seizure of Rs 2.25 crore in cash and foreign currency worth Rs 8.5 lakh during extensive raids targeting a Goa-based casino operation and its associated entities.

The enforcement action, which commenced on Sunday, focused on several companies including Golden Globe Hotels, Worldwide Resorts, Entertainment and Big Daddy Casino. The investigation is being conducted under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), according to an official statement released by the ED.

Officials from the ED's Panaji zonal office conducted searches across approximately 15 locations spanning Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Rajkot.

The investigation revealed that poker chips were being provided to customers in exchange for foreign currency, with winnings subsequently disbursed in the same foreign currency based on customer preferences.

The agency discovered that multiple online casino platforms, including rolex777.co, iCasino247.com, play247s.com, Win Daddy, and Poker Daddy, among others, were being "actively" promoted by staff members of the casino operating under Golden Globe Hotels.

According to the ED statement, "Cryptocurrency wallets belonging to poker players were being utilized for conducting financial transactions. The investigation has uncovered the use of Angadia services (illegal cash movement methods) through crypto wallets to facilitate fund transfers to Dubai and various other countries."

The probe also identified numerous mule accounts that were being employed for the deposit and withdrawal of "gambling winnings" which were subsequently transferred to individuals located abroad.

The searches, which concluded on Monday, resulted in the seizure of cash totaling Rs 2.25 crore alongside foreign currency worth Rs 8.50 lakh, including USD 14,000, the ED confirmed.