Offshore betting ads have emerged as the top violator of advertising standards in India, according to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), marking a sharp rise in non-compliance across digital platforms.
Offshore Betting Tops Violations List
In its 2024–25 Annual Complaints Report, the ASCI revealed that offshore betting ads accounted for 43% of all advertisements requiring modification—far surpassing any other category. This marks a year-on-year doubling in complaints related to illegal betting promotions.
Trailing behind were:
- Real estate at 24.9%
- Personal care at 5.7%
- Healthcare at 5.2%
- Food and beverage at 4.7%
Of the 9,599 complaints received, the ASCI reviewed 7,199 advertisements, with 98% requiring changes. Every betting ad investigated violated Chapter 3 of the ASCI Code, which bans promotions of illegal products, including unlicensed gambling.
Social Media at the Core of Violations
The report cited over 3,000 offshore betting ads flagged throughout the year. Notably, 318 were promoted by social media influencers, highlighting a growing issue with covert advertising and influencer marketing compliance.
These influencer-related violations alone made up 14% of all flagged ads, with platforms like Meta accounting for the lion’s share of exposure.
“Many community pages and influencers promoted disguised ads featuring exaggerated betting wins, embedded platform links, and impersonations of public figures,” ASCI stated.
Special Monitoring Unit Boosts Detection
The ASCI credited its improved enforcement efforts to the special monitoring unit it launched in January 2025, in collaboration with:
- Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS)
- All India Gaming Federation (AIGF)
- E-Gaming Federation (EGF)
This unit ramped up digital ad surveillance, uncovering disguised gambling promos hidden within community fan pages, bios, and brand overlays.
“We identified high-engagement digital posts that impersonated news anchors and celebrities, falsely suggesting they profited from these platforms,” the ASCI noted.
Public Participation on the Rise
Public awareness is also increasing. While 89% of ads were flagged via ASCI’s own monitoring, 11% came from consumer complaints—a significant 83.5% increase from the previous year.
Most of these complaints were tied to digital platforms, which made up 94.4% of all flagged ads, with Meta contributing 79%, followed by independent websites at 12%.
Regulator Calls for Accountability
ASCI’s CEO, Manisha Kapoor, emphasized the importance of collaboration and vigilance:
“This year has been one of meaningful collaborations. Our focus on offshore betting and real estate violations underscores our commitment to accountability and responsible advertising.”
The findings echo concerns raised in the Digital India Foundation’s earlier report, which found that illegal gambling platforms received 1.6 billion visits in just three months—an alarming indicator of a thriving black market.
A Call for Stronger Regulation
With influencer-driven promotions, covert gambling ads, and rising consumer concern, India’s digital ad space is increasingly under scrutiny. While ASCI’s stepped-up monitoring offers a crucial first line of defense, industry insiders argue that formal regulatory frameworks are essential to rein in offshore operators and restore market integrity.
