Govt bans betting ads on news sites TVs, OTT platforms

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday issued advisories to news websites, OTT platforms and private satellite channels to refrain from carrying advertisements of offshore betting sites.

“The private satellite television channels are strongly advised to refrain advertisements of online offshore betting platforms and/or their surrogate news websites or any such product/service depicting these platforms in a surrogate manner,” the I&B Ministry advisory said.

It also warned satellite TV channels of penal action under applicable laws for violation of the advisory.

In a separate advisory to publishers of news and current affairs content on digital media and OTT platforms, the ministry asked them not to target such advertisements toward the Indian audience.