Betting advertisements increase around major sporting events and likely involve black money, the Government said Friday, as it reiterated an advisory against such content with a warning of strict action.
The advisory comes days before the Asia Cup starts on August 31, and just weeks before the cricket World Cup is scheduled to begin October 5.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) advised “all stakeholders, including media entities, online advertisement intermediaries and social media platforms” to immediately refrain from showing advertisements and promotional content on betting or gambling in any form. Failure to adhere to this advisory, it said, may invite appropriate action.
Spelling out the financial and socio-economic risks of such activity for consumers, the Ministry cited recent action it took against a network of agents who collected large sums of money from users of gambling apps and funneled it out of the country.
This mechanism, it further explained, has linkages to money laundering networks and threatens the country’s financial security. It’s also highly likely that black money is used to pay for such advertisements, the Ministry said.
Most Read 1Chandrayaan-3 mission: Dawn breaks on Moon, all eyes on lander, rover to wake up 2As Indo-Canadian relations sour, anxiety grips Indian students, residents who wish to settle in Canada 3Karan Johar says Sanjay Leela Bhansali did not call him after Rocky Aur Rani: ‘He’s never called me but…’ 4Gadar 2 box office collection day 40: Hit by Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan onslaught, Sunny Deol movie ends BO run with Rs 45 lakh earning 5Shubh’s tour in India cancelled: Why is the Canada-based singer facing the music?
The Ministry had issued similar advisories to media platforms in June and October last year, and again in April this year before the start of the high-voltage Indian Premier League (IPL).
According to the Government, betting and gambling is illegal and advertising or promoting such activities directly or indirectly on any media platforms falls foul of the various statutes, including under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Press Council Act 1978, etc.
Also ReadParliament Special Session Live Updates: PM Modi thanks MPs across party …Exercise caution in Canada, ‘politically condoned’ hate crimes there: IndiaKhalistan separatist’s killing: US, Australia lend support to Canada call…Modi has invited Biden as Republic Day guest: US envoy
Furthermore, under the recently amended rule 3 (1) (b) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, intermediaries are obligated to make reasonable efforts so that users do not “host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share” any information which is not permissible.