No Advertisements On Online Betting: Govt Issues Fresh Advisory

New Delhi: The Central government has reminded concerned parties that it won’t tolerate any form of content on betting/gambling.

In a fresh advisory to media entities, advertisement intermediaries and social media platforms on Friday, the Information & Broadcasting (I & B) ministry stated that they must immediately refrain from displaying advertisements/promotional content on betting/gambling in any form, or else face ‘appropriate legal action’.

“It is also observed that there is a tendency to spike promotion of such betting and gambling platforms during a major sporting event, especially cricket, and one such important international event is beginning in a few days from now,” the advisory said, and warned media organisations and social media platforms to refrain from showing such advertisements.

The fresh advisory comes five days before the Asia Cup cricket meet gets underway. The ICC World Cup is also scheduled to be held in India in October-November.

The Ministry cited recent Central government action against a network of agents who had collected substantial money from users of gambling apps that had subsequently funnelled the funds out of India to reiterate that advertisements of gambling/betting platforms pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially youth and children.

“This mechanism has linkages to money-laundering networks, thereby threatening the financial security of the country,” pointed put the advisory.

The Ministry has stated that it is also highly likely that black money is used to pay for such advertisements.

According to the Public Gambling Act, any gambling that involves the act of putting money or betting for money or any other equivalent act is illegal.