Gaming co MPL sends $5.82 million legal notice to ad council of India
Galactus Funware Technology, the parent company of Mobile Premier League (MPL), skill-gaming platform in India, has issued a ₹50 crore ($5.82 million) legal notice to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), accusing it of defamation and manipulation of advertisements. The notice follows the release of ASCI’s May 2025 whitepaper titled “Examining Opinion Trading in India.” Galactus Funware claims the report presents a misleading picture of its platform and advertisements.
Whitepaper called ‘biased’ and ‘misleading’
The legal notice, sent via law firm Trilegal on 23 May 2025, demands ASCI immediately withdraw the whitepaper. According to the notice, the “tampered” versions of MPL advertisements to support claims that opinion trading carries risks and financial losses.
Galactus Funware alleges that ASCI edited screenshots from MPL’s marketing content, including a YouTube video titled ‘Skill, Interest, Knowledge’. The company claims the edits removed disclaimers and altered context, misrepresenting the nature of opinion trading as shown in the original material.
The notice further states that the whitepaper’s tone is “sensationalist” and accuses ASCI of ignoring facts that highlight MPL’s compliance with advertising standards.
ASCI responds, denies tampering claims
ASCI has confirmed receiving the legal notice. In a statement to local media The Economic Times, an ASCI spokesperson said, “We are in receipt of the notice and there is absolutely no question of tampering.”
The council has not issued further public comments but is expected to respond formally.
Questioning ASCI’s legal authority
In addition to challenging the report’s accuracy, Galactus Funware has questioned ASCI’s mandate. The company argues that ASCI is not authorised to comment on the legality of an industry’s operations. The legal notice has also been shared with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the All India Gaming Federation.
Mounting pressure on opinion trading platforms
MPL’s legal challenge comes amid increasing scrutiny of opinion trading platforms in India. The company had to shut down its ‘Opinio’ service in Haryana due to regulatory pressures and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
MPL’s updated Terms and Conditions now prohibit users in Haryana from engaging in games with uncertain outcomes, covering both MPL Opinio and MPL Fantasy formats.
Other platforms, including SportsBaazi, Probo, and TradeX, have also suspended operations in Haryana following a ban in Chhattisgarh. In Tamil Nadu, authorities have sent notices to multiple operators, and platforms continue to face regulatory challenges across several states.
SEBI advisory warns against opinion trading
Adding to the challenges, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a public advisory warning users against engaging with opinion trading platforms. According to SEBI, these platforms allow users to make financial wagers on the outcome of future events, typically through yes/no questions.
