ED provisionally attaches ₹1,906 crore in Gameskraft-linked assets

India’s Enforcement Directorate has attached Gameskraft-linked assets under PMLA, alleging its real-money gaming apps used bots and incentives to drive wagering. The action adds pressure on a major operator following India’s August 2025 ban on online money gaming.

— Source publishedFri, 24 Jul, 2026, 15:57 IST·First seen Fri, 24 Jul, 2026, 16:06 IST·Source The Hindu BusinessLine

What happened

Gameskraft Technologies Pvt. Ltd. · The ED attached ₹1,906 crore of Gameskraft-linked assets under PMLA, alleging its real-money gaming apps used bots and

Key facts

  • ₹1,906 crore assets provisionally attached
  • ₹2,401 crore total assets attached, seized and frozen
  • Around 3 crore users
  • 10-15% platform commission on staking/wagering deposits
  • July 22 attachment date
  • August 2025 India ban on online money gaming

Why this matters

Any gaming-sector transaction now requires deeper diligence on PMLA exposure, customer-incentive mechanics, bot controls and the availability of assets potentially subject to regulatory action.

What to watch

  • Whether the ED files a prosecution complaint, names additional entities or individuals, or expands the attachment beyond the reported ₹1,906 crore.
  • Outcome and timing of Gameskraft's challenge before the PMLA adjudicating authority and subsequent appellate courts.
  • Any clarification or enforcement action under India’s August 2025 online money gaming ban, including treatment of legacy liabilities and permitted non-money formats.
  • Payment-gateway, bank or app-store restrictions affecting deposits, withdrawals, advertising or distribution for gaming operators.
  • Evidence cited by investigators regarding alleged bots, incentive design, user losses, tax treatment or fund flows.
  • Announcements of layoffs, product shutdowns, capital raises, creditor actions or pivots by Gameskraft and peer operators.
  • Gameskraft is likely to contest the provisional attachment before the PMLA adjudicating authority and seek access to funds required for payroll, taxes, refunds and ordinary operations.
  • The company may accelerate a pivot away from real-money formats toward non-cash gaming, technology licensing or other permitted digital entertainment products.
  • Banks, payment gateways and wallet partners may tighten merchant monitoring, hold reserves, restrict new onboarding and seek enhanced transaction documentation from gaming clients.
  • Peer operators are likely to review bot-detection systems, bonus and referral programs, KYC controls, transaction trails, advertising claims and related-party payment flows.
  • Investors and lenders may reassess valuations, financing terms and impairment assumptions across Indian gaming, affiliate marketing and gaming-adjacent payments businesses.