ASCI and Gaming Federations of India join forces to monitor offshore betting ads

February 19, 2025

ASCI and Gaming Federations of India join forces to monitor offshore betting ads

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three key online gaming industry federations—Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), and E-Gaming Federation (EGF), to curb illegal gambling advertisements.

The partnership, effective from 2 January 2025, has led to the establishment of a special monitoring cell to track, screen, and report offshore betting advertisements that violate Indian laws. Since then, ASCI has flagged 413 illegal ads to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and processed 12 advertisements that potentially violated ASCI’s guidelines for Real Money Gaming (RMG).

ASCI strengthens oversight on betting ads

ASCI has kept a close eye on ads pertaining to offshore gaming platforms, misrepresenting Indian consumers as legally permissible gaming institutions. From April 2023 through March 2024, ASCI objected to 1,336 advertising pertaining to offshores involving betting, requesting Ministry of I&B take steps against these offenders. Another 492 advertisements concerned RMG issues were also processed on a need basis to scrutinise their congruity with ASIAN guidelines governing adverts.

With gambling being illegal in most Indian states, advertisements for offshore betting platforms are prohibited by law. However, certain Real Money Games (RMGs), which are classified as games of skill, are allowed to advertise under strict regulations.

To prevent consumers from being misled, ASCI’s guidelines require RMG advertisements to:

Avoid depicting minors in promotional content

Refrain from presenting winnings as a source of livelihood

Include disclaimers about the financial risks of gaming

Gaming industry leaders support responsible advertising

Manisha Kapoor, CEO and Secretary General, ASCI, emphasised the importance of curbing offshore betting ads, stating,

“Indian consumers are exposed to numerous ads of offshore betting and gambling companies that have no accountability in India. Several Indian celebrities have been part of such advertisements. Since gambling ads are prohibited in most parts of the country, their large-scale presence is a breach of the law.”

She further stressed the need for self-regulation and industry compliance to ensure legal gaming platforms advertise responsibly.

Neil Castelino, CEO, Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), while talking about the MoU said, “Through this collaboration, we hope that Indian consumers are not exposed to illegal platforms in the guise of online gaming while promoting responsible advertising practices.”

Anuraag Saxena, CEO, E-Gaming Federation (EGF), pointed out that offshore operators have scammed Indian consumers for years, adding, “The nation suffers, so do consumers, so does the domestic industry. The monitoring cell of ASCI will turbo-boost our efforts to create a safer gaming landscape.”

Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), said, “We remain steadfast in ensuring a robust, transparent, and responsible gaming environment in India. This MoU marks a pivotal step towards protecting consumers and elevating the credibility of India’s online gaming sector.”

Ministry of I&B takes action against illegal ads

With ASCI’s consistent monitoring, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken strong action against offshore gambling ads. The ministry has been actively blocking illegal ads and platforms flagged by ASCI, ensuring stricter enforcement of advertising laws.