No impact on Dream11 and co. of gambling ads notice

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Editor's note: In an advisory issued late last evening, the government has asked print, television and online media companies to not publish any ads on online betting and gambling. From the advisory: The online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, are advised not to display such advertisements in India or target such advertisements towards the Indian audience.  With the advisory, the information and broadcasting ministry also attached a list of dos and don’ts for ads around real-money gaming and fantasy sport that was last published by the ministry in late 2020. In the hours after the advisory was made public, confusion ensued within the gaming and advertising community and there were immediate concerns on the ambiguity of the document as to what constitutes gambling. And whether the government is actually taking a stance against real-money gaming companies like Dream11, Winzo and RummyCircle. Advertising and gaming executives who have taken a close look at the advisory are certain that it doesn’t impact the real-money gaming companies, but is actually directed at the offshore betting platforms.  The advisory is a …