New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- A flurry of illegal betting ads is once again in regulators' crosshairs. The Advertising Standards Council of India, in its latest half-yearly report (April-September 2025), found that most of the complaints it got related to offshore and illegal betting ads. Why are these ads a problem, who's involved, and are they on the right side of India's advertising laws? Mint explains.

What are offshore betting apps and are they legal in India?

Offshore betting apps are online gambling platforms operated and hosted outside India in tax havens such as Jamaica, Curacao and Gibraltar. These are accessible to Indian users via websites, apps and Telegram channels, allowing users to place bets on sports, lotteries, or real money ...