I&B Ministry cracks down on outdoor advertising of online betting platforms

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to eliminate outdoor advertising of online betting platforms and services. The advisory sent by the I&B secretary Apurva Chandra to all respective chief secretaries of states and UTs calls for urgent action outdoor advertisements of the banned platforms. This would be applicable on all outdoor advertising formats like hoardings, posters, banners, auto rickshaw branding, etc. 

The advisory reportedly states: “Online betting promotes an activity which is otherwise largely prohibited and poses a significant financial and socio-economic risk for consumers, especially youth and children. Further, advertisements of online betting are misleading.”

The advisory also states that such advertisements “do not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978.”

Last year, similar restraints were issued to the print, electronic and digital media to refrain from publishing such advertisements.