The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has partnered with top gaming federations to monitor and report illegal offshore betting ads.
A self-regulatory advertisement organization in India is teaming up with leading online gaming industry bodies in the country to curb illegal offshore betting and gambling advertisements.
The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), and the E-Gaming Federation (EGF) and Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) signed a memorandum of understanding to craft a monitoring body that screens and reports misleading offshore betting ads to relevant government authorities.
Consumer Protection and Industry Standards
The partnership aims to protect Indians from "deceptive offshore platforms" that disguise themselves as legal gaming sites, Neil Castelino, CEO of the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports.
“Since gambling advertisements are largely prohibited in India, their widespread circulation violates the law. ASCI is committed to flagging such ads to regulators for necessary action while ensuring that permissible gaming ads comply with ethical advertising guidelines,” Manisha Kapoor, CEO and Secretary-General of ASCI said.
Tackling Illegal Gambling Ads
Since January, ASCI has flagged 413 offshore betting ads to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and investigated 12 cases of potential violations of its Real Money Gaming advertising guidelines.
Anuraag Saxena, CEO of the E-Gaming Federation, underscored the risks posed by illegal operators, adding that these are harmful to the gaming industry’s legitimate side.
“For years, Indian consumers have fallen victim to fraudulent offshore betting platforms. These operations harm not only individuals but also the nation’s legitimate gaming industry. The formation of ASCI’s monitoring cell will significantly accelerate our efforts to create a safer and more trustworthy gaming environment.”
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