Centre issues advisory to media against ads promoting e-betting

HTC and agencies

NEW DELHI: The information and broadcasting ministry on Monday advised the print, electronic and digital media to refrain from advertising online betting platforms, saying betting and gambling are illegal in “most parts” of the country and pose significant financial and socioeconomic risk for consumers.

“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 advisory read.

The ministry said the advisory has been issued in larger public interest and comes in the light of instances of a number of advertisements of online betting weboften sites/platforms appearing in print, electronic, social and online media. “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 ministry said that advertisements of online betting are misleading, and did not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995.

It also did not conform to the 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, it stated.

“The online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, are advised not to display such advertisements in India or target such advertisements towards the Indian audience,” the ministry said.

IN ITS ADVISORY, THE GOVT SAID ONLINE BETTING ADVERTISEMENT ARE OFTEN ‘MISLEADING’