The National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has intensified its nationwide campaign against online gambling by arresting another YouTuber for promoting illegal betting applications.
The latest action took place in Lahore, where YouTuber Mudassir Hassan was taken into custody on Wednesday after authorities confirmed his involvement in advertising betting platforms through YouTube and other social media channels.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Hassan actively promoted “Quotex” and similar betting apps, encouraging his followers to download and use these platforms. Investigators have seized his mobile phone, which will now undergo forensic analysis to gather further evidence related to his digital activities. Officials explained that his online promotions violated existing laws regulating online content and gambling advertisements.
An NCCIA spokesperson confirmed that this arrest is part of a larger crackdown aimed at influencers who use their digital reach to promote gambling-related content. The spokesperson highlighted that such practices not only breach Pakistani law but also expose citizens to financial exploitation and social harm.
Online gambling platforms, often disguised as trading or investment applications, have been linked to fraud, addiction, and the loss of significant sums of money by unsuspecting users.
This arrest follows earlier action against well-known YouTuber Saad Ur Rehman, better known as Ducky Bhai, who was detained for similar violations. Other digital influencers, including Iqra Kanwal, Rajab Butt, Muhammad Anas Ali, and Nadeem Mubarak, have also been summoned for questioning over their alleged involvement in promoting betting apps.
Authorities stressed that the crackdown will remain in force until online spaces are cleared of illegal gambling promotions. Citizens have been encouraged to report such content to the NCCIA, helping to safeguard vulnerable audiences, particularly young people, from financial scams and unhealthy online practices.
The NCCIA reiterated that social media influencers bear a responsibility to promote legal and ethical behavior. Those who ignore the law and continue to advertise betting apps will face strict legal consequences under Pakistan’s cybercrime regulations.
