The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to TV channels and print and digital media to refrain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms.
The online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, are also advised not to display such advertisements in India or target such advertisements towards the Indian audience.
“Betting and gambling is illegal in most parts of the country, and concerns have been expressed that advertisements of online betting promote an activity which is otherwise largely prohibited and poses significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially youth and children,” the advisory said.
Further, 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, a reference to which has also been made in the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
