In less than 4 years, Winzo siphoned off Rs 3,522 crore as AI, BOTs defeated genuine gamers: ED to Bengaluru special court

However, the investigation revealed that most RMGs were manipulated. Analysis of the game codebases, third-party developer agreements, and internal communications revealed that till December 2023, the RMGs were embedded with BOTs/AI/algorithm profiles. During the period from May 2024 to August 2025, the company changed its code-based BOT modus operandi to simulate historical match-play data of dormant/inactive players against real users without their knowledge or consent. In order to conceal these acts, the company deliberately referred to the use of BOTs and simulated players under misleading terminologies such as EP (Engagement Play), PPP (Past Performance of Player), and Persona, the ED said in its statement.

The investigation further revealed that users were initially lured with small bonuses and made to win against easy BOTs, even being allowed to withdraw small winnings, thereby creating a false sense of trust. Once users began playing with higher boot amounts, Winning/Hard BOTs were deployed systematically, resulting in significant financial losses to the users. Evidence gathered during the investigation revealed that genuine users lost to BOT profiles and incurred losses amounting to Rs 734 crore. Further, even genuine winnings at higher stakes were often blocked through restrictive withdrawal mechanisms.

It was also found that Winzo failed to return legitimate user winnings and deposits amounting to Rs 47.66 crore, even after the ban of RMG by the Union Government. In this manner, the ED said, the company has generated total proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 3,522.05 crore between fiscal years 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 (as on 22 August last year).

Shell companies in US, Singapore

Further, the ED investigation disclosed that the proceeds of crime so derived by the company were laundered through shell companies, created in the US and Singapore. Around $55 million was transferred to foreign bank accounts held in the name of these shell companies, under the guise of Overseas Direct Investment (ODI). Also, an amount of Rs 230 crore was diverted to another accused subsidiary company, under the pretext of ‘Loans from Holding Company’, without any legitimate business rationale. Attempts were also made to divert an additional Rs 150 crore under the ODI route; however, the same could not materialise due to the non-submission of mandatory audit and utilisation certificates.