The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with major online gaming industry federations—the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), and the E-Gaming Federation (EGF)—to tackle the growing issue of illegal offshore betting advertisements. Effective from January 2, 2025, the MoU establishes a special monitoring cell dedicated to screening and reporting such ads to regulatory authorities, ensuring compliance with ASCI’s advertising guidelines.
Since the MoU’s launch, ASCI has flagged 413 offshore betting ads and processed 12 for potential violations of the Real Money Gaming (RMG) guidelines. The move aims to strengthen consumer protection by identifying illegal ads, especially those targeting vulnerable markets. With Indian laws prohibiting gambling and offshore betting in most states, the collaboration ensures that legitimate real-money gaming advertisements remain compliant.
In Kolkata, where the online gaming market is expanding rapidly, concerns over illegal betting ads persist. The city’s growing consumer base for real-money games requires stricter monitoring to protect players from misleading platforms. The new initiative will likely foster greater transparency in the Kolkata market, ensuring that local consumers are only exposed to responsible and legal gaming ads, in line with national regulations.
