ED Raids Goa Casino, Seizes ₹2.2 Crore and Uncovers Cryptocurrency and Hawala Links

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a two-day search operation at 15 locations across Goa, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Rajkot, targeting entities involved in casino operations. The raids, conducted on Sunday and Monday, led to the seizure of ₹2.25 crore in cash and $14,000 (₹8.5 lakh). The investigation focused on premises associated with Big Daddy Casino, M/s. Golden Globe Hotels Pvt. Ltd., and M/s. Worldwide Resorts and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., operators of Big Daddy and Casino Strike in Goa. The ED’s probe revealed that foreign currency was exchanged for poker chips, and winnings were paid out in foreign currency. The agency also discovered the use of cryptocurrency wallets by poker players for financial transactions. Staff members were found promoting multiple online casino platforms like rolex777.co, iCasino247.com, and play247s.com. Moreover, the ED uncovered the use of angadia services via crypto wallets for USDT transfers to Dubai and other international locations. The investigation identified several mule accounts used for depositing and withdrawing gambling winnings, which were subsequently transferred abroad. The ED froze cryptocurrencies, including USDT worth over ₹90 lakh, and seized documents and digital evidence indicating violations of FEMA regulations and links to cross-border hawala and crypto transactions.