Offshore Gambling Ads Dominate ASCI Complaints in India
Promotions for offshore gambling and betting platforms accounted for the largest share of advertising complaints in India in 2024–25, according to the latest report from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). The self-regulatory body flagged a growing volume of illegal gambling content circulating online, despite ongoing bans and enforcement efforts by authorities.
Gambling-Related Ads Surged Sharply
Out of 7,078 advertisements reviewed over the year, more than 3,000 (43.52%) promoted offshore gambling and betting. This represents a sharp rise from 1,311 similar cases in the previous year. Despite ongoing bans from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, these platforms continue spreading across digital channels.
ASCI credited the increase in flagged ads to better detection tools and stronger ties with real money gaming (RMG) stakeholders. In January 2025, industry associations launched a special monitoring unit that played a key role in identifying violations.
Regulatory Escalation and Monitoring
In line with its enforcement mandate, ASCI said it has been escalating violations to the relevant government bodies. The total number of illegal ads related to gambling and other restricted categories – such as tobacco, alcohol, and false health claims – rose from 2,707 in 2023–24 to 3,347 in the past year.
ASCI’s annual data highlights the increasing challenges in regulating digital ad content, especially in high-risk sectors such as gambling. With offshore operators exploiting online platforms, the report underlines the need for sustained collaboration between industry players and regulators.