Gaming Ads: Meta, Google fail to appear before ED again

The ED has now called them again for deposition on July 28

by e4m Staff
Published: Jul 21, 2025 3:58 PM | 2 min read

Officials from Meta and Google have once again failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with ongoing investigations into foreign betting and gaming advertisements. The tech giants were issued summons last week under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) but did not show up for questioning. The ED has now called them again for deposition on July 28.

This marks the second time that India’s financial crime-fighting agency has summoned representatives from the digital behemoths. The probe focuses on how illegal betting and gaming apps have used major digital platforms to promote their services, allegedly through ad buys routed via shell companies and foreign remittances.

A senior ED official reportedly said that over 35 companies are under the scanner. These include ad intermediaries, gaming firms, and fintech platforms suspected of helping launder proceeds through advertising. Meta and Google are being examined for whether they performed due diligence before hosting ads for these entities, and whether ad revenue was received from companies under investigation.

The agency is reportedly looking at digital ad payments worth hundreds of crores made by firms running illegal betting apps, which often escaped regulatory oversight by operating through offshore servers and complex payment chains.

While the companies have not officially commented, this isn’t the first time tech platforms have come under regulatory fire in India. The ED’s interest in the ad layer suggests a deeper scrutiny of how Big Tech monetizes platform space without necessarily vetting the legitimacy of advertisers.

The case also signals broader concerns about ad tech accountability, especially as India’s digital advertising ecosystem becomes the preferred playground for everything from online gambling to crypto exchanges.

With the next round of questioning set for July 28, all eyes are now on whether Meta and Google comply—or continue to play no-show with India’s top financial investigators.