Gambling ads lead ASCI complaint surge in 2024–25 | Gambling Insider
Offshore betting promotions make up nearly half of violations, says self-regulatory body.
Key points:
– Over 3,000 ads flagged for offshore gambling and betting
– 69% of influencer ads failed to comply with disclosure norms
– Rise in miracle cure and alcohol-related promotions also noted
As reported by The Hindu, offshore gambling advertisements accounted for the largest share of complaints received by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) in the 2024–25 period.
The council reviewed 7,078 advertisements, of which 43.52% were linked to offshore betting and gambling content.
The number of flagged gambling ads more than doubled from 1,311 cases in the previous year to 3,081. These ads often promoted platforms that have been blacklisted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, yet continue to proliferate across digital spaces. ASCI escalated these advertisements to the appropriate authorities for legal action.
Aside from gambling content, 233 advertisements were flagged for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. These included unverified health claims and miracle cure promotions. Twenty-one ads for alcoholic beverages on social media were also reported to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Good to know: A special monitoring unit set up by real money gaming industry stakeholders in January 2025 played a key role in identifying gambling ads
Influencer marketing remained a critical area of non-compliance. Of the 1,015 influencer ads reviewed, 69% failed to meet transparency standards. Many lacked clear disclosure labels or buried them within hashtags.
Only 29% were found to have proper disclosure.
ASCI reported that five influencers complied only after jury recommendations, while another five were referred to the Ministry for continued breaches. Violations were most prevalent in the fashion and lifestyle sector (27.5%), followed by telecom products (21.7%) and personal care (13%).
