₹70,000 Cr Betting Fraud: Will Your UPI Get Traced?

GST authorities found a ₹70,000 crore illegal betting network hiding behind normal-looking payment companies. Now they want every digital payment to record which website triggered it — which could change how UPI and payment gateways work for everyone.

Here's what happened: DGGI's 14-month investigation uncovered an estimated ₹70,000 crore illegal online betting network using shell merchant companies to collect and reroute player payments, hiding the true source.. Investigators recommended that payment systems must record the originating website URL for every transaction, tied to the GST registration linked to that website.. The proposal was sent to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), but experts note most Indian payments happen via UPI and apps — not websites — creating a large gap in coverage..

What you should do: Check that your business's GST registration is linked to the correct bank account and website — mismatches could trigger scrutiny under new payment-trail rules.. Avoid using unregistered payment aggregators or informal QR codes for your business; stick to RBI-authorised payment gateways that maintain proper merchant records.. If you receive income from online platforms or gaming sites, ensure you are filing GST returns correctly — DGGI investigations are expanding beyond large operators to payment intermediaries..

Pro tip: If you are a small merchant, verify your GST-linked bank account on the GST portal right now — a mismatch between your registered account and your actual UPI-linked account is the exact data gap investigators are targeting.

For readers weighing their credit and loan options, our personal loan guide and CIBIL score resources put this update in context.