Escalating Concerns Over Offshore Betting Ads in India: A Year in Review
Overview of Rising Complaints
Recent data from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) reveals that complaints regarding offshore betting advertisements have surged dramatically, more than doubling compared to the previous year. This alarming trend positions offshore betting as the leading violator of advertising regulations in India.
Statistics of Violations
In its comprehensive 2024-25 Annual Complaints Report, the ASCI reported a staggering 9,599 complaints, with a thorough review of 7,199 advertisements. A staggering 98% of these ads required modifications. Offshore betting constituted 43% of the ads needing revisions, dwarfing the second-place contender, real estate, which accounted for 24.9%. Other sectors like personal care, healthcare, and food and beverage also made the top five, but their numbers were significantly lower.
Underlying Causes of the Surge
The spike in complaints coincided with the establishment of a dedicated monitoring unit in January 2025, in collaboration with three online gaming federations. This initiative aimed to combat illegal advertisements more effectively. The ASCI emphasized that many of the flagged betting ads breached Chapter 3 of its Code, which expressly prohibits the promotion of illegal products such as gambling.
Infiltration of Social Media
The report indicated that over 3,000 offshore betting advertisements circulated throughout the year, with 318 originating from social media influencers. This represents a notable 14% of the total ads under scrutiny. Influencers, often blurring the lines between personal promotion and commercial advertisement, played a significant role in disseminating these potentially harmful ads.
Enhanced Compliance through Monitoring
The ASCI attributed the increase in ad surveillance to its newly formed monitoring unit, which partnered with industry stakeholders. This unit helped uncover various illegal betting platforms propagated through deceptive ads on community and fan pages, including branded tickers and social media bios.
Identifying Problematic Promotions
The report outlined specific issues, such as influencers showcasing exaggerated profits from minimal bets, often embedding links to betting platforms. Some digital posts even impersonated celebrities, claiming substantial earnings from these gambling sites, thus misleading consumers and attracting significant engagement.
Public Participation in Reporting
In an encouraging sign, 89% of ads flagged for review were identified through ASCI’s proactive monitoring, while the remaining 11% were based on public complaints. The number of ads flagged by the public rose significantly, with 659 ads reported—an 83.5% increase from the prior year.
Dominance of Digital Platforms
Digital mediums were the primary source of complaints, making up 94.4% of all ads reviewed. Meta platforms alone accounted for 79% of these complaints, illustrating a pressing need for more rigorous adherence to advertising standards on social networks.
Commitment to Regulatory Oversight
Manisha Kapoor, the ASCI’s chief executive, commented on the organization’s collaborative efforts this year, particularly in addressing violations related to offshore betting and real estate advertising. She emphasized ASCI’s reinvigorated dedication to maintaining an accountable advertising landscape.
The findings were underscored by a separate report from the Digital India Foundation, which indicated that illegal gambling operators were flourishing, with just four platforms receiving a staggering 1.6 billion visits within three months. This report underscored the urgency for stricter regulations on illegal gambling sites in India.
As the landscape of advertising continues to evolve, the ASCI’s initiatives signify a proactive approach to safeguarding consumer interests and upholding regulatory compliance in an increasingly complex market.