Govt bans ads promoting online betting; issues advisory to media

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on Monday (June 13) issued an advisory to print, electronic and digital media to refrain from advertising online betting platforms.

The advisory comes in light of instances of a number of advertisements of online betting websites/platforms appearing in print, electronic, social and online media, the ministry said.

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“It has now come to the notice of this Ministry that a number of advertisements of online betting websites/platforms are appearing in print, electronic, social and online media,” the I&B ministry said in the advisory.

“Betting and gambling, illegal in most parts of the country, pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially youth and children,” the advisory states.

It has further added that these advertisements on online betting have the effect of promoting this largely prohibited activity.

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“The advertisements of online betting are misleading, and do not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978”, it has stated.

The advisory has been issued in larger public interest, and it has advised the print and electronic media to refrain from publishing advertisements on online betting platforms, the ministry said.

It has also advised the online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, to not display such advertisements in India or target such advertisements towards the Indian audience.

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On 4 December 2020, the I&B ministry had issued an advisory to private satellite TV channels to adhere to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) guidelines on advertisements of online gaming which contained specific ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for print and audio-visual advertisements of online gaming.