India asks Google to stop showing online betting ads

India has asked Google not to display surrogate ads of foreign betting companies. Mint has given this information quoting a source familiar with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The report said that Alphabet Inc's letter to Google India last week asked the company to immediately remove all direct or surrogate advertisements from search results such as Fairplay, Parimatch, Betway and betting platforms such as YouTube.

Reuters reported on December 4, citing a government document and three sources, that India's plan to regulate online gaming would apply to all real-money games, in addition to the Prime Minister's Office regulating skill games.

Asked to stop the ad immediately

A senior ministry official told that the ministry has asked Google to stop it immediately. They have said that after our last advisory on October 3, TV channels and OTT (over-the-top) players stopped showing surrogate advertisements of online betting firms, but still many such advertisements are running on YouTube and Google.

Google did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the government panel's suggestion. In September, a government panel said in a draft report seen by Reuters that India should create a regulatory body to classify online games based on skill or chance, introducing rules to block banned formats. Should do and take a tough stand on gambling websitesshould.

Advisory issued earlier also, the Government of India is taking a very strict stand on the advertisements of betting. Earlier too, the Center had asked new websites, OTT platforms and private satellite TV channels to refrain from airing advertisements of betting sites. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) had also issued an advisory regarding this. It was said that if the advice of the government is not followed, then punitive action will be taken under the applicable laws.

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