Meta has rolled out a stricter set of rules for advertisers in the real-money gaming (RMG) sector in India. Under the updated policy, advertisers must now obtain a certificate confirming their game qualifies as a ‘game of skill’ before running any ads.
These certificates must be sanctioned either through a court order or by one of three authorized industry associations:
This policy revision directly impacts an estimated ₹3,000–₹4,000 crore in annual ad spending by RMG companies. As per Sindhu Biswal, CEO and founder of Buzzlab, 60–70% of this advertising budget traditionally flows to Meta-owned platforms like Facebook and Instagram, thanks to their high-precision targeting and strong user engagement.
To publish ads related to online gambling or RMG on Meta platforms, advertisers are now required to:
Request written approval from Meta using a designated form.
Submit documentation proving their activities are either licensed or legally permitted in the regions they plan to target.
Additionally, Meta has reiterated its stance on user safety by banning such ads from being shown to users under 18 years of age.
The tightened rules encompass all kinds of real-money gaming, including:
Fantasy sports
Online betting
Lotteries
Skill-based gaming tournaments
Games that award monetary prizes, even if indirectly
Even landing pages that promote these games — including affiliate and aggregator sites — fall under this scrutiny, regardless of whether the gameplay is hosted directly on the ad destination.
The stricter policies arrive at a time when online gaming ads in India are being closely monitored. Recently, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the FIFS, AIGF, and EGF to implement a joint ad-monitoring mechanism.
As part of the agreement:
A dedicated cell will report advertisements from offshore betting sites to relevant government authorities.
The same cell will also evaluate and flag non-compliant RMG ads.
In March, the three federations also introduced a joint ‘Code of Ethics’, aimed at ensuring consistent safety standards across all real-money gaming platforms.
Roland Landers, CEO of AIGF, welcomed the change, stating:
“The new framework is a major step forward in aligning global platform policy with India’s regulatory and legal realities. It ensures that only authorised, responsible operators can access Meta’s ad inventory while protecting users, especially minors, from exposure to unregulated gaming content.”
Govind Mittal, Chief of Staff at Zupee, echoed this sentiment:
“This change will ensure that all skill gaming companies get to play on a level-playing field and access to deep advertising platforms like Meta will not be restricted to only a select few.”
Legal professionals believe Meta’s revised ad policies are a strategic move to remain compliant with the diverse state-level regulations emerging across India.
Dhruv Suri, Partner at PSA Legal, commented:
“With several states beginning to take action, Meta is likely trying to ensure it stays within the bounds of what’s permitted. By requiring third-party certifications, it’s creating a layer of legal assurance around what can and cannot be advertised.”
Manvinder Singh, Partner at JSA Advocates and Solicitors, added:
“Real money gaming runs the risk of being classified as gambling or betting, if such games are not proven to be games of skill.”
He further noted the legal ambiguity surrounding RMG in India, saying:
“The Central Government, various State Governments, and the judiciary, each have taken different views on the legality of this nascent, rising sector. Courts have reasoned that money-based online fantasy sports are a game of skill. However, some states have changed the definition of gambling to include all kinds of games, whether games of skill or luck, within the definition of gambling or betting, thereby lending ambiguity to their legality.”
Meta’s revised ad framework for real-money gaming advertisers reflects a growing effort to bring transparency and accountability to a sector under increasing legal and public scrutiny in India. By requiring certifications and adhering to legal standards, Meta is not only protecting its users — especially minors — but also paving the way for a more structured and compliant gaming ecosystem. This move could serve as a template for other digital platforms navigating the evolving regulatory landscape of real-money gaming.