Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory urging 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 whatsoever.
While the online advertisement intermediaries are advised not to target such content towards Indian audience, the social media intermediaries are advised to conduct sensitisation efforts among their users to refrain from publishing such content.
“It is hereby cautioned that failure to comply with the above may lead to proceedings under the provisions of Consumer Protection Act, 2019, removal/disabling of social media posts/accounts where such promotional content/advertisements/endorsements are being published, and penal action under the applicable statutes,” the advisory said.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), vide Advisory dated 06.03.2024 (copy enclosed), while referring to the predominant illegality of offshore online betting and gambling platforms in most regions across the country and provisions of the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements 2022, has expressed concerns regarding endorsements of such betting/gambling platforms by celebrities and influencers to endorse and promote their betting activities, and 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.