Urvashi Rautela promotes illegal betting website 1xbet, may face legal action

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Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela is under scrutiny for promoting illegal online gambling platforms. Industry stakeholders from the Real Money Gaming (RMG) sector are urging legal action against her for endorsing betting website 1xBet, despite multiple government advisories against such promotions.

According to Storyboard18, Rautela has previously faced backlash for promoting another illegal betting platform, Lotus365. She was also among the celebrities under government investigation for endorsing Mahadev Online Book, an illegal betting company. Industry experts have raised concerns over her continued involvement in such promotions.

Legal Implications for Celebrity Endorsements

Technology and gaming lawyer Jay Sayta highlighted legal concerns regarding endorsements of illegal betting platforms. He stated, “There are several ongoing instances of false and misleading advertisements by illegal offshore betting websites, endorsed by Indian celebrities, despite multiple advisories from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.”

Sayta added, “Appropriate action could be taken against endorsers, publishers, and companies facilitating such false and misleading advertisements under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.” He also noted that endorsers could face criminal prosecution if they fail to comply with directives issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).

Additionally, endorsers may be charged under state gaming laws, many of which prohibit the advertisement of illegal online gambling platforms.

Government’s Stance on Illegal Gambling Promotions

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued multiple advisories urging celebrities and influencers to refrain from promoting offshore online betting platforms. The advisory states, “Failure to comply with the above may result in legal proceedings under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, removal or disabling of social media posts/accounts featuring such promotional content, and penal action under applicable statutes.”

Despite these warnings, offshore gambling companies continue to promote their services in India, leveraging celebrity endorsements to attract users.

ASCI’s Role and Industry Backlash

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has been criticized for its inability to curb misleading advertisements. Sandeep Goyal, Managing Director at Rediffusion, remarked, “ASCI is a toothless body. It has never been able to enforce guidelines, allowing individuals to circumvent rules without consequences.”

ASCI, however, maintains that it actively monitors gambling-related advertisements. Manisha Kapoor, General Secretary and CEO of ASCI, stated, “ASCI continuously monitors advertisements related to illegal offshore betting and gambling. Any guideline violations or suspicious activities are escalated to the MIB and other relevant administrative ministries.”

ASCI has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with multiple online gaming associations, including the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the E-Gaming Federation (EGF), and the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), to monitor and report violations.

Industry Response and Future Actions

Multiple RMG operators have criticized ASCI for failing to report violations proactively. Some industry members are calling for legal action against Rautela for endorsing illegal gambling platforms. The AIGF plans to escalate the issue to the government.

Roland Landers, CEO of AIGF, emphasized, “AIGF remains committed to promoting responsible digital advertising and ensuring compliance with government and ASCI guidelines. Despite multiple advisories, offshore operators continue to advertise in India, often using celebrity endorsements.”

Storyboard18 reached out to Urvashi Rautela for a statement, but she declined to comment on the matter. With regulatory authorities tightening scrutiny on illegal gambling promotions, further legal actions may follow against endorsers violating existing guidelines.

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