Centre asks news websites, TV channels to refrain from carrying advertisements of betting sites

New Delhi: The Centre on Monday issued advisories to news websites, OTT platforms, and private satellite channels asking them to refrain from carrying advertisements on 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 Ministry of Information and Broadcasting advisory said.

It also warned private satellite television 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 issued a similar directive and asked them not to target such advertisements toward the Indian audience.