Pakistan launches campaign against bloggers promoting online casinos

Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has stepped up its efforts against influencers promoting online casino apps. According to the authorities, bloggers acted as ambassadors for gambling platforms and misled subscribers with promises of easy profits. A total of six influencers are under investigation.

The investigation began with the first criminal case filed by the NCCIA on 17 August 2025 against YouTuber Rajab Butt for promoting illegal gambling apps on his social media pages. According to Dawn Images, which refers to their copy of the FIR (First Information Report), the case mentions apps such as Binomo, 1xBet, Bet 365, and B9 Game, which, according to the investigation, defrauded users and did not pay out the promised profits.

These applications are also mentioned in a report by the international academic journal The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies:

In recent years, the number of online casinos and betting sites has grown significantly. They increasingly target vulnerable people, especially young people, through social media. Platforms such as Binomo, 1xBet, and Bet365, which are banned in Pakistan, continue to exist mainly thanks to promotion through influencers. Bloggers often present such apps as legitimate ways to ‘make money’ — an easy way to earn cash or even a chance to win large cash prizes.

Rajab Butt is accused of acting as a brand ambassador for Binomo and promoting illegal apps in his YouTube and TikTok videos. He is also charged with promoting gambling apps on Instagram Stories for a limited period of time.

At the end of August, the NCCIA also summoned another blogger, Ducky Bhai, for questioning as part of an extended investigation. He was accused of possible money laundering through gambling apps.

Furthermore, on 24 September, the NCCIA announced new cases against two more YouTubers, Anas Ali and Hurairah, who advertised betting apps and lured people into investing money by promising high returns.

On 25 September, during further investigations, the NCCIA announced the initiation of three more criminal cases against other well-known bloggers: Iqra Kanwal (Sisterology), Nadeem Mubarak (Naniwala), and Muhammad Hasnain Shah. They are also accused of promoting illegal gambling apps and misleading users to attract investments. According to the investigation, the bloggers were summoned for questioning three times, but they ignored the summons. Special raid teams were set up to arrest them.