Pakistan's Crackdown on Influencers Widens as YouTuber Rajab Butt is Charged Over Illegal Gambling Ads

• Pakistan’s government has widened its crackdown on influencer marketing for illegal gambling, with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) filing formal charges against popular YouTuber Rajab Butt.
• The charges, which include electronic fraud and cheating under the PECA 2016 act, were filed after Butt allegedly promoted unlicensed betting apps and then failed to appear for questioning.
• This is the latest high-profile case in the government’s offensive against the black market, following the recent arrest of fellow YouTuber ‘Ducky Bhai’ on similar charges.
• The NCCIA has also recently ordered the blocking of 46 mobile apps, including major international brands, linked to illegal gambling and trading.
• The sustained law enforcement action is a clear warning about the severe legal risks of promoting online betting in Pakistan’s prohibitive regulatory environment.

The Next Target in a Widening Crackdown

London, UK - 29th September 2025 - Pakistan’s cybercrime agency has formally charged another prominent social media influencer, Rajab Butt, for his alleged role in promoting illegal gambling platforms. The move is the latest in a sustained and escalating government crackdown on influencer marketing for the country’s vast black market.

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Butt, a popular YouTuber, after he allegedly failed to appear before investigators to provide a defence against the accusations.

The Charges and Allegations

The case against Butt is extensive. He has been charged with multiple offences under both the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016-including electronic forgery, fraud, spamming, and spoofing-and the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR includes links to videos where Butt allegedly acted as a brand ambassador for several illegal applications, including the unlicensed trading platform Binomo. Authorities claim he was invited to participate in their investigation back in June but did not respond to the summons, leading to the formal filing of charges.

A Coordinated, Multi-Front Offensive

This latest action is not an isolated incident but a clear continuation of a coordinated, multi-front offensive by Pakistani authorities against the entire illegal gambling ecosystem. This crackdown has recently included:

• The high-profile arrest in August of another major YouTuber, Saad ur Rehman (‘Ducky Bhai’), on similar charges.
• A sweeping order to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block 46 different mobile apps, including well-known international brands, linked to illegal gambling and unlicensed trading.

This three-pronged strategy-targeting the influencers, their promotional content, and the products themselves-demonstrates a new level of sophistication and determination from the country’s law enforcement agencies.

A Hostile Environment for Black Market Marketing

The formal charging of a second major YouTuber is an unambiguous signal from Pakistani authorities. They are systematically and publicly dismantling the marketing ecosystem that supports illegal gambling in the country, where online betting is strictly prohibited. The message to the international iGaming industry is stark: the risk for any brand or affiliate using local influencers to promote services in Pakistan’s prohibitive regulatory environment is now exceptionally high.