Offshore Betting and Real Estate Top Advertising Violations: ASCI Report
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has released its annual report, revealing offshore betting and real estate as the sectors with the highest number of advertising violations. Consumer complaints surged by 83%, underscoring the need for transparency in influencer marketing and stricter advertising regulations.
AsciAdvertising ViolationsConsumer ComplaintsInfluencer MarketingTransparencyReal Estate NewsMay 28, 2025
ASCI reviewed 9,599 complaints and scrutinized 7,199 advertisements over the past year. The findings show that 98 per cent of the ads examined required some form of modification. Offshore betting platforms accounted for 43 per cent of all cases, making it the most violative sector, followed by real estate at 24.9 per cent. Other sectors with notable violations included personal care (5.7 per cent), healthcare (5.23 per cent) and food and beverage (4.69 per cent).
A significant portion of the violations, 3,347 ads, fell into categories legally prohibited from advertising. This included 3,081 ads for offshore illegal betting platforms, with 318 of these involving influencer promotions. Additionally, 233 ads potentially violated the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 21 promoted alcohol brands, and 12 were for unauthorised forex trading apps banned by the RBI.
Influencer marketing also came under scrutiny, with ASCI investigating 1,015 influencer ads, 98 per cent of which required modification. A specific concern was noted on LinkedIn, where 121 violations involved professionals failing to disclose paid partnerships, prompting ASCI to issue an advisory for transparency on the platform.
The majority of ads processed, 89 per cent, were identified through ASCI's proactive monitoring, with the remaining 11 per cent originating from public complaints. The 659 ads flagged by the general public represent an 83.5 per cent increase from the previous year, suggesting growing consumer awareness and engagement with ASCI's redressal mechanisms. Digital platforms remained the primary source of violations, accounting for 94.4 per cent of processed ads, followed by television (2.6 per cent) and print (2.4 per cent).
ASCI reports an 83 per cent overall compliance rate, with TV and print advertising showing close to perfect adherence at 98 per cent. The council also noted a 46 per cent reduction in its average complaint turnaround time, bringing it down to 16 days. This improvement is attributed to increased efficiency and a higher number of advertisers, 59 per cent, who promptly modified or withdrew their ads upon being contacted by ASCI.
Manisha Kapoor, chief executive officer and secretary general, ASCI, noted the focus on 'high-impact violations' such as offshore betting and real estate. Partha Sinha, chairman, ASCI, said, 'In a world where ads chase clicks and claims fly faster than facts, someone has to stay sober. That's where ASCI comes in. The rise in public complaints—and more importantly, how many advertisers chose to quietly comply—says a lot about where trust still lives. We're not here to police creativity. We're here to make sure the consumer isn't the punchline. In the chaos of the digital bazaar, our job is to keep one stall honest.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What sectors had the highest number of advertising violations according to the ASCI report?
Offshore betting and real estate were the sectors with the highest number of advertising violations, accounting for 43 per cent and 24.9 per cent of all cases, respectively.
How many consumer complaints were reviewed by ASCI in the 2024-2025 report?
ASCI reviewed 9,599 consumer complaints and scrutinized 7,199 advertisements over the past year.
What percentage of influencer ads required modification?
98 per cent of the 1,015 influencer ads investigated by ASCI required modification.
What was the overall compliance rate reported by ASCI?
ASCI reported an 83 per cent overall compliance rate, with TV and print advertising showing close to perfect adherence at 98 per cent.
How did ASCI reduce its average complaint turnaround time?
ASCI noted a 46 per cent reduction in its average complaint turnaround time, bringing it down to 16 days, attributed to increased efficiency and prompt action from advertisers.
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