Second alert in 4 months: Penalty for betting ads on TV, OTT, says Govt

ISSUING ITS second such alert within a span of four months, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Monday asked TV channels, digital news publishers and OTT platforms to refrain from showing advertisements of online betting sites, including surrogate ads. It warned that violations would lead to penal action.

In two separate advisories — one for digital media and OTT platforms, and the other for private satellite TV channels — the Government said “some online offshore betting platforms” have started using their medium “as a surrogate product to advertise their betting platforms”.

It pointed out that “betting and gambling is an illegal activity in most parts of India” and cannot be shown.