‘Poker chips for foreign currency’: ED raids premises linked to Goa casino, other locations in FEMA case

During the searches, Rs 2.25 crore cash in Indian currency, USD 14,000, and other foreign currency amounting to Rs 8.5 lakh were seized, the ED said in a statement.

The ED also said its investigation found that poker chips were being provided to customers in lieu of foreign currency and that winnings were disbursed in foreign currency based on customer requirements.

“Further, it was found that multiple online casino platforms, namely, rolex777.co, iCasino247.com, play247s.com, Win Daddy, Poker Daddy, among others, were actively promoted by staff members of the casino under M/s Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd. It has also emerged that cryptocurrency wallets belonging to poker players were being used for carrying out financial transactions,” the ED said.

The agency said that the use of angadiya services (informal cash couriers) through crypto wallets to facilitate USDT (referring to cryptocurrency Tether) transfers, both to Dubai and various locations across the world, has been unearthed.

“Several mule accounts were identified as being used for the deposit and withdrawal of gambling winnings, which were subsequently transferred to different individuals abroad. Further, different cryptocurrencies, including USDT of more than Rs 90 lakh, were found and frozen during the action. Incriminating documents and digital evidence have been seized, which establish violations of FEMA provisions as well as linkages with cross-border hawala/crypto transactions. Further investigation is under progress,” the ED said.

A representative of Golden Globe Hotels Pvt Ltd did not respond to requests for a comment.

The ED also conducted a search operation under the provisions of FEMA at a premises in Mapusa on September 26, after receiving a specific input from the Airport Customs, Goa, regarding seizure of foreign exchange worth over USD 35,000.

“During the course of the search, foreign currency equivalent to approximately Rs 3 lakh, Indian currency amounting to Rs 13 lakh, incriminating chits and records of illegal forex transactions and two mobile phones were seized. Initial examination of the digital evidence has revealed telephonic chats and communications which indicate that the shop owner was engaged in unauthorised dealings in foreign exchange, with the total value of such transactions estimated to be around Rs 2-3 crore,” the ED statement said.

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