Overview
- The ED’s Panaji office searched 15 premises across Goa, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Rajkot linked to Golden Globe Hotels, Worldwide Resorts and Big Daddy Casino.
- Officials seized Rs 2.25 crore in cash, USD 14,000 and additional foreign currency worth about Rs 8.5 lakh, while freezing cryptocurrencies including USDT valued at over Rs 90 lakh.
- According to the agency, poker chips were exchanged for foreign currency and winnings were paid out in forex, with staff promoting online platforms such as rolex777.co, iCasino247.com, play247s.com, Win Daddy and Poker Daddy.
- Investigators say crypto wallets, angadia services for USDT transfers to Dubai and other locations, and mule bank accounts were used to route gambling proceeds overseas.
- In a related FEMA action on September 26, a search at Mapusa shop Loja Shamu recovered roughly Rs 16 lakh and records pointing to unauthorised forex deals estimated at Rs 2–3 crore, with digital forensics underway.