India vs Australia 2020 live streaming sees betting ads, broadcasters to face wrath?

During the India vs Australia live stream of the recently concluded three-match ODI series, two online sports betting companies ran advertisements on-air, which allowed Indian users to place bets online using the Indian banking system. Notably, online sports betting is banned in all Indian states and union territories except Sikkim.

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BCCI under scanner for showing online sports betting companies ads during India vs Australia live streaming

According to the guidelines by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), advertisements can not propagate the use of products that are banned under the law. According to a report by The Indian Express, the ads of Malta-registered Betway and Philippines-based Dafabet were streamed during the ODI series on SonyLiv which is the digital arm of the Sony Pictures Network.

On being contacted about the same by The Indian Express, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal said that the board had no knowledge about it. Dhumal further said that it is not the BCCI who has telecast rights and control over Australia versus Indian series. He clarified that it is Cricket Australia who has the rights. Dhumal also said that according to the rule, the BCCI can only do anything if they are hosting any international game or it falls under their jurisdiction.

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As per legal experts, placing a bet online from India would be a violation of the country’s gambling and foreign exchange laws. Sport and gaming lawyer Vidushpat Singhania, who was the secretary to the Justice Mudgal-led IPL match-fixing probe committee, said that if a bet is placed online or offline in a gambling house and transactions are entered into, then besides being a violation of the gambling acts, the international transaction would violate the Foreign Exchange Management (Current Account Transaction) Rules.

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Meanwhile, Australia ended up winning the three-match ODI series 2-1 after comprehensively defeating India in the first two matches. However, the Men in Blue managed to win the final ODI by 13 runs and thus avoided in what could have been a humiliating whitewash Down Under. The two cricketing giants will now compete in a three-match T20I series followed by a four-match Test series.

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SOURCE: INDIAN CRICKET TEAM INSTAGRAM