MIB Announces Guidelines For Online Betting And Gambling Platforms; Warns Social Media Influencers

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued advisory asking all endorsers and influencers on social media to refrain from showing promotional content, advertisements, including surrogate advertisements, of offshore online betting and gambling platforms in any form. Ministry issued the advisory in view of the significant financial and socio-economic implications of online betting and gambling on consumers, particularly the youth. In its advisory, I&B Ministry said, while the online advertisement intermediaries are advised not to target such content towards Indian audience, the social media intermediaries are also asked to conduct sensitization efforts among their users to refrain from publishing such content. The Ministry said that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has expressed concerns regarding endorsements of such betting and gambling platforms by celebrities and influencers to endorse and promote their betting activities. The Authority has cautioned that any advertisement or endorsement, whether directly or indirectly, of activities which are otherwise prohibited by law, including but not limited to betting or gambling, through advertisements or promotions, shall be subject to rigorous scrutiny. The Ministry has cautioned that failure to comply may lead to proceedings under the provisions of Consumer Protection Act, 2019.