Highlights:
- Real-money gaming guidelines updated and came into effect on the 15th of December
- Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has started taking action on 81 advertisements of several platforms for violating the guidelines
- The ads violated its guidelines which require advertisements not to be aimed at minors, not show gaming as a possible source of livelihood, and also should not link it to success
The Indian advertising industry regulator called the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), on Thursday, has said that it has started taking action against 81 advertisements from several online gaming platforms after the guidelines related to real-money gaming were released, which came into effect from the 15th of December.
The advertisements violated its guidelines according to which they require advertisements not to be aimed at minors, not showcase gaming as a possible source of livelihood, or even link gaming to success.
Additionally, the guidelines also require all advertisements to carry a disclaimer regarding the risk of financial loss and the addictive nature of such games.
Close to 75% of complaints received were from end consumers while the rest were taken up suo motu by the ASCI.
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In 15 cases, the advertisements have been voluntarily withdrawn by advertisers after receiving communication from the advertising regulator. In another 27 cases, the advertiser had removed the advertisements after the complaint was lodged but before ASCI’s communication to the firm.
In 2 cases, the advertisers contested the complaint, however, did not yield anything and the complaints were upheld as the advertisements violated the ASCI code.
At the same time, complaints against 37 advertisements are still under process where the ASCI has written to the advertiser asking for an explanation.
Talking about the platforms on which most of the complaints arrived were Instagram and YouTube from where 39 and 37 complaints were received, respectively.
The majority of complaints were filed against Online Cricket (55) and Rummy (15), also, ASCI, at the time, declined to reveal the names of the defaulting online gaming companies.
Secretary General of ASCI, Manisha Kapoor said, “We are quite happy to note that consumers have come forward to report advertisements that potentially violate the code. We too are keeping a close eye on such advertisements and, through our association with TAM Media Research, we are monitoring the digital space more efficiently.” “With such steps, we hope to make advertisements for online gaming for real money winnings more transparent and safer for consumers,” Kapoor added.
