ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE (ED) on Sunday said it has filed a chargesheet against real-money online gaming platform WinZO and its promoters, alleging that players lost Rs 734 crore after the company used bots and artificial intelligence to manipulate game algorithms.
According to an official statement, the ED’s Bengaluru zonal office filed the prosecution complaint on 23 January before a special court designated to hear cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
WinZO Pvt. Ltd., its directors Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore, along with the company’s wholly owned subsidiaries including overseas entities such as WinZO US Inc., WinZO SG Pte. Ltd. and ZO Pvt. Ltd. have been named as accused in the case.
The agency said WinZO offered more than 100 games through its mobile application and claimed a user base of around 25 crore players, largely drawn from tier-3 and tier-4 cities. The company charged users a commission on betting amounts for providing real-money gaming (RMG) services and assured players that its platform was transparent, secure and free of bots. However, the ED alleged that its investigation revealed widespread manipulation across most games.
An analysis of game codebases, third-party developer agreements and internal communications indicated that until December 2023, the RMGs were embedded with bots, AI and algorithmic profiles. The ED further claimed that between May 2024 and August 2025, WinZO altered its approach by simulating historical gameplay data of dormant or inactive players and pitting them against real users without their knowledge or consent.
“To suppress and conceal these unscrupulous acts, the company deliberately referred to the use of BOTs and simulated players under misleading terminologies such as EP (engagement play), PPP (past performance of player) and Persona,” it said.
The ED also claimed that users were initially attracted through small bonuses and easy wins against low-level bots, and were allowed to withdraw modest amounts to build trust. However, genuine winnings at higher stakes were allegedly restricted through stringent withdrawal mechanisms, compelling users to continue playing.
The agency further alleged that WinZO failed to return legitimate user winnings and deposits amounting to Rs 47.66 crore, even after real-money gaming platforms were banned by the central government last year. It also accused the company of laundering proceeds of crime through shell entities established in the United States and Singapore.
The ED had conducted raids at the premises of WinZO and its promoters last year and arrested Nanda and Rathore. Rathore has since been released on bail.
