Enforcement Directorate Seizes ₹2.2 Crore in Money-Laundering Probe Against Goa Casino

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 15 locations associated with casinos, restaurants, hotels, and other establishments in Goa, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Rajkot. The two-day operation, carried out on Sunday and Monday, resulted in the seizure of ₹2.25 crore in cash and $14,000, equivalent to ₹8.5 lakh. The investigation targeted premises linked to Big Daddy Casino, M/s. Golden Globe Hotels Pvt. Ltd., and M/s. Worldwide Resorts and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Golden Globe Hotels Pvt. Ltd. operates two casinos in Goa: the offshore casino Big Daddy and Casino Strike. The ED’s investigation revealed that poker chips were provided to customers in exchange for foreign currency, and winnings were disbursed in foreign currency based on customer requirements. Cryptocurrency wallets belonging to poker players were also utilized for financial transactions. Multiple online casino platforms, including rolex777.co, iCasino247.com, play247s.com, Win Daddy, and Poker Daddy, were actively promoted by casino staff. Furthermore, the agency uncovered the use of angadia services through crypto wallets to facilitate USDT transfers both to Dubai and various global locations. Several mule accounts were identified as being used for the deposit and withdrawal of gambling winnings, which were then transferred abroad. Cryptocurrencies, including USDT valued at over ₹90 lakh, were found and frozen during the operation. Incriminating documents and digital evidence, which establish violations of FEMA provisions and linkages with cross-border hawala/crypto transactions, were seized.