At least 14 ads from mobile game operators aired in the first week of the ongoing IPL cricket tournament have been found to breach guidelines set by the advertising industry, watchdog ASCI said on Tuesday. self-regulating. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) said it reviewed 35 advertisements from the real-money online gambling industry between March 26 and April 3, of which 14 were found to violate its code.
Brands violating the code include My11Circle, Fairplay, Gamezy and Winzo, according to a statement.
“ASCI is concerned to note that, despite clear guidelines, some real-money online gaming companies are trying to cut corners. For an industry that is under significant regulatory scrutiny, such acts by some companies portray the entire industry as irresponsible,” ASCI’s chief executive said. says Manisha Kapoor.
She said the IPL (Indian Premier League), which attracts huge eyeballs, demands “responsible behavior” from brands, broadcasters, celebrities and ad makers.
ASCI, which also deals with advertising on digital platforms, found 285 social media advertisements from real-money online gambling companies in violation of its code which came into effect in December 2020.
Violations observed include dubious claims such as “India’s biggest top prize”, while in several cases the disclaimer advising consumers of the risks was posted very quickly rather than at a rapid pace. normal speech.
In some cases, the ads had celebrities acting while the disclaimer was in effect, distracting consumers from important risk information, while others had smaller disclaimers than what was prescribed.
“These attempts to gloss over disclaimers that must be conveyed in the prescribed manner, informing about the risks of financial loss or gambling addiction, can seriously compromise the interests of consumers. ASCI urged gaming industry bodies to address this issue with their members,” it said.
ASCI’s statement says its guidelines, which have been backed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, require brands not to target products at minors, not to portray gambling as a source of income or to link it to success.
The guidelines also require all advertisements to carry a prominent disclaimer regarding the risk of financial loss and the addictive nature of such games, the statement added.
