The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued an advisory to all states and union territories in India to curb outdoor advertisements of betting and gambling platforms.
In a letter addressed to the chief secretaries, MIB secretary Apurva Chandra noted that betting and gambling are illegal in most parts of the country and pose financial and social economic risks for consumers, particularly youth and children.
Chandra mentioned that while advertisements of such activities have been curbed in mainstream print, electronic, and digital media, some betting and gambling platforms have started using outdoor media such as hoardings, posters, banners, and auto-rickshaw branding to promote their websites and apps.
This is not the first time that the MIB has issued such an advisory. In October last year, the ministry directed digital advertisement intermediaries not to use promotional material for Indian audiences related to betting and gambling. The advisory warned TV channels and OTT players of penalties in case of violations, but did not specify the amount of the penalty.
The Indian government has been cracking down on betting platforms for some time now. In February, it banned 138 Chinese betting apps for flouting Section 69 of the IT Act.
Last year, it directed Google to stop overseas online betting platforms such as Betway and 1xBet from marketing their ads in the country. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also seized INR 212.91 crore until December 2022 in connection with money laundering probes involving online gambling platforms.
The ministry’s latest advisory aims to curb outdoor advertising by betting and gambling platforms, which may attract youth and children. The move is expected to make a significant impact on the industry, as outdoor advertising is considered an effective medium to reach a wider audience. Betting and gambling are already illegal activities, and advertisements/promotions of such activities are not permitted on any media platforms in India.
