A Surat cricket betting racket allegedly operating during an India–New Zealand T20 match has been uncovered by the city’s Detection of Crime Branch. Police seized 12 mobile phones and named five people in the FIR, according to a report published late on October 28, 2026.
The case is a useful warning for cricket users because illegal betting panels often borrow the language and visual style of legitimate sports apps. A name containing “11”, “play” or “exchange” is not proof that an app is a licensed fantasy or cricket game.
What Surat DCB reported
Police identified a 50-year-old man as the main accused and said the activity was being run from a flat in the Pal area. Four other people were named in connection with supplying website IDs or participating in the alleged operation.
The FIR refers to four online platforms or panels: PDMEXCH, 11XPLAY, TOMEXCH and AUEXCH. Investigators suspect multiple phones and accounts were used to handle betting transactions. The seized devices and financial records are now being examined to establish the size of the network and each person’s role.
A case has been registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act. These remain allegations under investigation; the report does not establish a conviction, final transaction value or the number of users involved.
Why multiple phones and panel IDs matter
Online betting networks can divide customer messages, match odds and payment records across different accounts. That makes a panel ID look like an ordinary login while the actual operation is coordinated through several phones and intermediaries.
For users, the practical risk is larger than losing a bet. Payments can be routed through accounts unrelated to the advertised brand, withdrawals may be blocked, and an operator can disappear by changing its domain or chat handle. A screenshot of a balance is not proof that the money is protected or withdrawable.
Cricket game, fantasy app or betting panel?
- Cricket video game: the user controls simulated play; there is no need to stake money on a real match.
- Free fantasy game: users select a team for points but do not pay a stake for cash winnings.
- Betting panel: users place money on match events or outcomes, often through changing IDs, private agents or “exchange” accounts.
India’s current national framework prohibits the offering, advertising and payment facilitation of online money games while supporting registered esports and online social games. The official rules also provide grievance and user-safety mechanisms for eligible products. An offshore or agent-run betting panel does not become legitimate because it is accessed through a mobile browser or chat link.
Checks before using a cricket-related app
- Confirm the publisher and official app-store listing.
- Do not transfer money to a personal UPI ID supplied by an agent.
- Avoid any panel that changes domains or asks you to communicate only through WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Never share an OTP, screen-control code or banking PIN.
- Keep payment records and report suspected cyber fraud quickly through India’s official cybercrime channels.
For more context, read our fantasy cricket APK safety guide, the Thane mule-account gaming risk report and our India online gaming rules explainer.
Sources: The Times of India’s October 28 Surat DCB report and the Ministry of Electronics and IT’s official Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026 summary.
