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Pakistan’s official record documents warnings about surrogate betting promotion, reported blocks of betting and gambling websites and apps, and an ongoing FIA investigation—but it does not establish how many people used the platforms or prove that their use surged nationwide. The phrase “took Pakistan by storm” is therefore a headline framing, not a measured finding.
What Pakistan’s 2023 notice said about betting promotion
On December 19, 2023, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a “Zero Tolerance for Surrogate Companies” notice through the Press Information Department. It referred to earlier advisories dated September 25 and October 20, 2023, and to reports that surrogate betting logos remained visible during broadcasts of Pakistan’s cricket tour to Australia. The notice addressed promotion as well as online access.
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It told PEMRA to enforce broadcast restrictions, directed the Pakistan Cricket Board to implement earlier directions, and advised the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to stop illegal betting, gambling and casino companies operating through apps and websites. The notice stated: “PTA is also advised to stop all such illegal surrogate betting, gambling, and casino companies in Pakistan which are operating through apps and websites.”
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Two 2025 reports give different enforcement snapshots. They are not a like-for-like count of unique operators: the available reports do not establish a shared counting method or whether blocked links stayed inaccessible.
#1 Best Overall
| Date and source | Reported figure | Scope and caveat |
|---|---|---|
| August 7, 2025; a National Assembly reply reported by The News | 184 betting and gambling websites and apps | Reported as blocked by PTA following complaints from organizations including FIA and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as well as members of the public. The report said the reply described individual enforcement as outside PTA’s mandate and said complaints requiring investigation were forwarded to FIA. |
| September 20, 2025; a PTA response reported by The News | 260 betting and gambling websites and apps | PTA attributed the blocks to stakeholder complaints. The response also mentioned seven links related to the platform queried in that article. The report said PTA described the platforms carrying the ads as situated outside Pakistan. |
The later number is not proof that 76 new operators were added, that the total increased by a particular percentage, or that access was permanently removed. The reported figures come from different dates and source contexts, with no shared methodology established in the reports.
Why blocking, investigations and promotion rules are separate
The reports describe several distinct responsibilities rather than one enforcement action. PTA’s reported role concerned blocking online links; criminal or financial complaints could be referred to FIA or other relevant bodies; and the 2023 notice addressed broadcast promotion through PEMRA and sports-related directions to PCB.
Rank #2
In its September 2025 response, PTA said it relied on stakeholder complaints or recommendations for criminal, financial and regulatory matters. The report also described liaison channels, consultations and public and government complaint mechanisms. A block on a website or app is not the same as a criminal finding, and it does not by itself show that all promotion or access has ended.
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On September 25, 2026, Dawn reported that FIA officials had booked eight suspects in an ongoing case involving alleged online gambling and financial fraud in Faisalabad. According to the officials cited in the report, investigators identified U7777 Game, TD777, Game89, EPIWIN, B9 Game and S9 Game, and alleged that payment channels included bank transfers, mobile wallets and cryptocurrency.
Rank #3
The report attributed further suspected activity—including illegal transfers, layering, digital hawala or hundi, and possible USDT or other cryptocurrency channels—to FIA investigators. Officials also cited Rs119.93 billion in credit turnover and Rs8.586 billion across five branch-less collection accounts, involving approximately 10.5 million transactions. These are figures reported in connection with accounts in the inquiry; they are not independently audited gambling losses or proof that the amounts were proceeds of betting. The case and inquiry were continuing, so the allegations are not findings of guilt.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is—and is not—known about the scale
The cited notices and reports document government instructions, reported blocking totals, and an investigation. They do not provide a national count of users, a measured growth curve, or evidence establishing why people used the apps. Claims about the scale of adoption or its causes—including claims about poverty, young people, celebrity promotion or social-media algorithms—cannot be established from these sources.
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