GST Department Blocks 375 Gaming Websites, 2400 Accounts Under Investigation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said GST Intelligence officers have blocked 357 illegal offshore gaming websites and frozen 2,400 bank accounts as a part of a current crackdown.

The action was performed by the DGGI (Directorate General of GST Intelligence). It has identified 700 offshore gaming companies that are under investigation for not registering for GST and hiding their taxable income.

DGGI officers carried out another operation against some Indian nationals who were running online money gaming platforms from outside India. The investigation found that these individuals were offering online money games to Indian users through platforms like Satguru Online Money Gaming Platform, Mahakaal Online Money Gaming Platform, and Abhi247 Online Money Gaming Platform. They were also using fake or unauthorized bank accounts, known as mule accounts, to collect money from users.

The finance minister also said that the DGGI has blocked 166 mule accounts connected to these platforms. So far, three people have been arrested, and the investigation is still ongoing against others.

The ministry mentioned that most Bollywood celebrities, cricketers, and social media influencers on platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram are promoting these gaming sites. It warned the public to avoid using these platforms, as they could risk their money and indirectly encourage activities that harm the financial stability and security of the country.