Government warns media of legal action against online betting ads ahead of 2023 Asia Cup

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (IB), on August 25, has informed newspapers, digital and social media platforms, and online advertisement intermediaries that promoting or advertising betting or gambling apps will be strictly dealt with. The development comes less than a week ahead of the 2023 Asia Cup.

In an advisory issued by the ministry, it has been stated that there has been a surge in gambling and betting advertisements in recent times during major sporting events, including cricket. It noted that an important international sporting event was beginning in the next few days, that being the six-team Asia Cup, which is going to be co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

This is the fourth such advisory issued by the government after similar ones in June and October 2022 and April 2023. The Ministry has stated that the promotion of betting and gambling apps is linked with money laundering networks and can be a threat to the "financial security of the country". The advisory also states that black money is most likely used in paying for such advertisements. 

"It may be noted that advertisements of gambling/betting platforms not only pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for consumers, especially the youth and children, but have linkages to money laundering networks, thereby threatening the financial security of the country," the advisory said.

"These advisories have stated that betting and gambling was an illegal activity and hence advertisements/promotion of such activities directly or indirectly on any of the media platforms falls foul of the various statutes, including under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Press Council Act 1978, etc,.

"Failure to adhere to this advisory may invite appropriate action from the Government under various statutes,” the advisory read. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan, who are currently playing Afghanistan in a three-match ODI, will face Nepal in the opening game of the Asia Cup on August 30 while the highly-anticipated Pakistan versus India clash is going to be held in Pallekele on September 2. The two teams along with Nepal are placed in the same group while Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are in the other group.