Refrain From Advertising Online Betting Platforms, I&B Ministry Tells Media

New Delhi: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has advised the print, electronic and digital media to refrain from publishing advertisements on online betting platforms.

The online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, have been told not to show such advertisements in India or target them at the Indian audience.

The advisory has been issued in the wake of numerous advertisements of online betting websites/platforms appearing in print, electronic, social and online media.

"Betting and gambling, illegal in most parts of the country, pose a significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially the youth and children," said the Ministry, adding that such advertisements had the effect of promoting a largely prohibited activity.

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

Earlier on December 4, 2020, an advisory was issued by the I & B ministry to the private satellite TV channels to abide by the Advertising Standards Council of India's guidelines on advertisements of online gaming that contained specific dos and don'ts for the print and audio-visual advertisements of online gaming.

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