A new report by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has identified Instagram as the preferred platform for illegal operators to advertise their products to the local population.
ASCI has emphasized that illegal offshore betting remains a persistent “major concern” for regulators, with 890 ads reported to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB). These ads represent 29% of the total 2,830 illegal advertisements processed between April and September 2024.
Among the 890 illegal ads, 831 appeared as Instagram posts on fan and community pages, which included specific tags redirecting users to offshore betting platforms. Additionally, ASCI identified 50 other websites and social media pages and 9 influencers promoting illegal gambling platforms.
Consequently, several pages were swiftly removed following ASCI’s intervention, facilitated by its close collaboration with the government.
Manisha Kapoor, CEO of ASCI, commented: “Our work in partnership with government regulators in sectors such as betting is creating an impact. While there is a long way to go, such partnerships are able to create an impetus for better oversight.”
In its report, ASCI also noted that it has reduced its average turnaround time for complaint resolution from 30 to 18 days, aiming to enhance efficiency and speed in addressing significant violations like illegal gambling ads.
“With constant progress in reducing our turnaround time for complaint management, ASCI’s deep experience and tech-supported efforts are evolving to provide better protection to the consumers of India,” Kapoor added.
As is the case elsewhere, illegal operators in India pose a significant risk to users and threaten the state treasury.
Currently, legal online gambling brands operating in India are subject to a 28% GST levy, which was increased from the previous 18% by Modi’s cabinet in October 2023.