Famous Indian Sports Stars Who Promote Betting Brands Including Melbet

By Guest - Sep 22, 2025 08:42 PM
Last updated on Sep 22, 2025 08:50 PM

In India, the advertisement of betting is strictly regulated. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting prohibits direct ads of offshore bookmakers, and the self-regulatory organization ASCI requires mandatory risk disclaimers and prohibits minors from promotions. Therefore, brands such as Melbet are looking for workarounds, sports media, responsible gambling projects, merchandising, and ambassador campaigns with athletes. This helps companies stay in the public eye without breaking the law.

Examples of Athletes

Several Indian athletes have already collaborated with betting brands through media and content formats.

• Dinesh Kartik (cricket) is an ambassador for Parimatch Sports and Parimatch News. His participation is expressed in merchandise collections and sports projects, rather than in direct betting slogans.
• Ritu Phogat (freestyle wrestling, MMA) is a representative of Parimatch. She appears in campaigns focused on women's sports and offline meetings with fans;
• Suresh Raina (cricket) collaborated with 1xBet as a “responsible gaming ambassador,” emphasizing the importance of responsible gambling.

Melbet in India

Melbet is an international brand licensed in Curacao that is actively developing its presence in India. The company focuses on a combination of sports betting, online casino, and a strong mobile platform.

Sports Betting

Sports coverage provides around 1,000 events per day across over 40+ sports. There are professional tournaments from all over the world, including local and international events. Users can choose to bet in pre-match or live tabs, and the odds match the industry average across all betting markets. Bettors can choose to predict the outright result, match result, or player performance. Popular football matches may include around 1,000 betting markets. There are also sport-specific options, like the number of sets in tennis or total points scored in basketball.

Casino

Melbet Casino offers over two thousand games that include slots, table games, and a live casino with real dealers. Content is provided by well-known studios such as Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and Evolution Gaming, as well as a number of Asian developers familiar to Indian players. Importantly, the entire range is available both on the website and in the app, with no restrictions on functionality.

App

Melbet offers users a mobile app for Android and iOS, so bettors can use the services without opening a browser. The application is simple to install on smartphones and tablets and loads fast even on slower networks. It is about 80 megabytes in size and can be installed via APK or in PWA format. The interface has been translated into Hindi and English, and built-in options allow you to use local payment methods.

Bonuses

The Melbet bonus program makes the product accessible and attractive to a wide audience. New users receive a 100% welcome bonus on their first deposit. For cricket fans, there are special promotions timed to coincide with the IPL and other tournaments. Regular players can count on weekly cashback and free bets. The minimum deposit via the app starts at 300-500 rupees, which allows you to participate in the game even with small amounts.

The Role of Ambassador

In July 2025, Melbet announced Monami Ghosh, an actress well-known in West Bengal, as its ambassador. This was a strategic choice:

• Organic integration into the cultural context of India;
• Expansion of reach beyond the sports audience;
• Reduction of regulatory risks by the focus on an image campaign rather than direct betting advertising.

Thus, Melbet is using a more flexible strategy than brands that only use athletes.

Melbet and Sports in India

Although actress Monami Ghosh has become the brand's new ambassador, the Melbet product itself in India is built around sports, especially cricket. The company understands that sports content is the main factor in engaging the Indian audience.

• Cricket as the foundation. IPL, international series, and regional tournaments occupy the main part of the line. Pre-match and live betting are available for fans;
• Support for local sports. In addition to cricket, Melbet offers lines on field hockey, badminton, and kabaddi, disciplines that are popular in different states of India;
• Live betting format. A key element of the brand's marketing. The live section allows you to react to every moment of the game, which strengthens the connection with the emotional side of the sport;
• Esports betting. The young audience gets access to Dota 2, CS:GO, and League of Legends. This expands the boundaries beyond traditional cricket.

This focus on sports products allows Melbet to remain on par with brands that use famous Indian athletes, although the company chose a media actress for its ambassador campaign. In essence, Melbet combines two approaches: a cultural figure to reach a mass audience and a sports product for engaged fans.

Conclusion

Well-known Indian athletes continue to participate in promotional activities for betting brands, but more often in soft formats, through media, merchandising, and responsible gambling projects. Confirmed examples include Dinesh Kartik, Ritu Phogat, and Suresh Raina. In the case of Melbet, the news of its collaboration with Monami Ghosh shows a different model, the brand is betting on cultural icons and media stars to circumvent restrictions and reach a wider audience.

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