Mid-Day publishes 1xBat ad amid surrogate betting concerns

Prepend to the content

The Mid-Day newspaper recently featured a front-page advertisement showcasing cricketer Shikhar Dhawan promoting “1xBat,” a sports merchandise brand linked to offshore betting platform 1xBet. Legal expert and gaming industry analyst Jay Sayta highlighted the advertisement in a tweet, emphasizing concerns about surrogate advertising. Sayta tweeted, “Surrogate brand of illegal offshore betting website 1xBet continues to flout all norms & advertise openly. Despite multiple advisories issued by the I&B Ministry & clear provisions in law, front page ad in Mid-Day newspaper yesterday openly advertising the surrogate brand of 1xBet. ASCI & authorities remain mute spectators & have failed miserably in stopping this menace.”

The advertisement allegedly appeared prominently in the newspaper, bringing attention to ongoing discussions about surrogate advertising. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued multiple advisories against indirect promotions of gambling-related entities, including brands linked to betting platforms.

This is not the first time 1xBat has been in the spotlight. Earlier this IPL season, reports surfaced about Dhawan’s association with the brand, leading to speculation about indirect promotion of 1xBet. His PR team later clarified that his contract with 1xBat ended in March 2025 and that he had no connection with 1xBet. They also stated that a legal notice had been sent to 1xBet for unauthorized use of his image.

The post Mid-Day publishes 1xBat ad amid surrogate betting concerns appeared first on G2G News.