Govt asks pvt TV channels to follow ASCI guidelines for advertisements

New Delhi:The government on Saturday directed private television channels to follow guidelines issued by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) for promotion of  online gaming, fantasy sports etc and said the commercials should not promote any activity prohibited by statute or law.

"It has come to the notice of Ministry of I and B that a large number of advertisements on Online Gaming, Fantasy Sports, etc have been appearing on the television. Concerns were expressed that such advertisements appear to be misleading, do not correctly convey to the customers the financial and other risks associated thereof, are not in strict conformity with the Advertising Code laid down under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019" an Advisory by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said.

The advisory has been issued after a consultation meeting held by the I and B Ministry with the officials and representatives of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, ASCI, News Broadcasters Association, Indian Broadcasting Foundation, All India Gaming Federation, Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports, and the Online Rummy Federation.

ASCI guidelines require that every such gaming advertisement must carry the following disclaimer ''This game involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own risk". Such a disclaimer should occupy at least 20 percent of the advertisement space.  

The guidelines also state that gaming advertisements cannot depict users under the age of 18 years as engaged in playing a game of "online gaming for real money winnings" or suggest that such users can play these games. The advertisements should neither suggest that online gaming presents an income generating opportunity as an alternative to employment nor depict a person playing such games is more successful than others.

The ASCI established in 1985, is a Mumbai based self-regulatory voluntary organization of the advertising industry in India. It seeks to ensure that advertisements conform to its Code for Self-Regulation.  Under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 it is mandatory for television networks to follow the advertising code laid down by ASCI.(UNI)